Thailand strives to develop the digital economy

Thailand is making efforts to apply technology and convert to smart agricultural production. Illustration. (Source: Bangkok Post)

Recognizing the importance of quickly promoting the use of digital technology as a main tool for socio-economic development, the Thai government has long adopted policies to promote the digital economy. .

As a country considered to have accelerated the digital transformation process, Thailand has set a target of growing the digital economy up to 50% by 2030.

Thailand is one of the countries with the fastest digital economic growth in Southeast Asia in recent years. The digital economy is forecast to create about 60 million new jobs for people in the Golden Temple in the coming years. The country's government has introduced incentives to support high-tech industries.

At the end of 2022, then-Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha called on ASEAN member countries to participate in cooperation and promote initiatives in the digital field, to create an environment better for digital business expansion. To achieve this goal, investing in upgrading digital infrastructure is considered mandatory in Thailand.

Strategy "Thailand 4.0"

The Thai government is implementing policies to support infrastructure development towards the "Thailand 4.0" Strategy, through promoting investment in digital and telecommunications infrastructure. The “Thailand 4.0” strategy is an economic model that aims to transform Thailand from an industry-driven country to a high-tech driven country.

This strategy was launched by the Thai government with the ambition to build a digital society and economy, helping this country become a "digital leader". In particular, Thailand focuses on increasing the use of digital technology in all socio-economic activities, such as developing infrastructure, data, innovations, human resources and technical resources. others to bring the country to stability, prosperity and sustainability.

According to a government official in this country, the advancement of the creative digital economy will link all industries and allow people to use digital technology, especially the development of digital infrastructure. digitally through new technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to bring development opportunities to all industries.

To implement the above strategy, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand has implemented digital infrastructure development projects across the country, especially the installation of high-speed Internet lines throughout villages. copy. Leading Thai telecommunications service providers including AIS, DTAC and True quickly deployed 5G coverage nationwide, currently covering 80% of the population.

With digital technology, Thai people have access to public services, online information, medical care, and distance education, and partly helps eliminate social gaps.

Thailand is one of the countries leading digital adoption in Southeast Asia and is also one of the first countries in the region to commercially deploy 5G. Thailand also helps expand digital infrastructure networks to neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Innovating the agricultural sector

Agriculture is one of Thailand's key economic activities. This country is always among the largest rice exporters in the world, considered the "tropical fruit basket" of Southeast Asia, but the agricultural sector only contributes about 8-9% to the total. domestic product (GDP).

Aiming to become a major food supplier to the world, Thailand strives to innovate the agricultural sector to improve farming methods, including increasing the productivity and value of agricultural products, as well as efforts to improve farming practices. force to promote skills building for farmers in the transition to smart agriculture.

However, Thai agriculture is also facing a number of challenges such as population aging, the high rate of indebted farmer households, and the rate of organic farming (not using chemical fertilizers). low, vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

The Thai government has determined that the country's agricultural development needs to focus on four main directions: implementing the Bio-Circular-Green economic model in agriculture and increasing productivity through large-scale farming. ; Encourage the development of high-value vegetables, fruit trees and crops for export; Encourage the growth of plant-based food crops to support future food security trends; and increase the proportion of farmers using online technology.

From these orientations, in recent years, the Thai government has implemented many measures, especially in conjunction with the private sector in the field of technology development to help farmers innovate their agricultural practices. modern, sustainable and highly competitive direction.

It can be said that Thai agricultural capacity has now developed significantly thanks to the policies, initiatives and support of the government, along with the response and active participation of the private sector. Cooperation between partners has helped mitigate negative effects caused by weather and natural disasters, reduce costs, improve output and product quality, create sustainable income, thereby helping to improve the lives of Thai farmers.

With the knowledge of technology they have learned, many Thai farmers know how to use and analyze data to plan and design more effective farming management to reduce manual labor, increase productivity and accuracy, cut costs, thereby creating a sustainable source of income.

The global economy is forecast to be digitized to 50% by 2025. With unremitting efforts, we are confident that the land of the Golden Temple will soon achieve the goal of increasing the country's digital economy to 50%. in 2030.