Empowering Thai Society through Digital Transformation

Today, we are pulling out all stops to drive towards Thailand 4.0 and transform the country into ASEAN’s digital hub.  Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) is coordinating efforts and strategies on a national level that will lead us to the digital economy, ranging from planning and developing national policies, to empowering people by training them to use digital technologies, so we can build an equitable and inclusive society.  

With the challenges brought on by the pandemic, one thing is certain: society adjusted quickly by adapting spontaneously to digital technologies. They became essential to help us navigate unchartered waters and continue our lives during the most challenging moments.  We saw new ways to communicate, continue learning, do business, take care of our health, and help those who needed assistance. This digital trend, by all indications, is going to continue at light-speed, and we all need to be ready.

Now we are collectively working on recovery and lifting ourselves from the economic downturn which has created increasing inequalities. Moving forward, digital technologies can help us achieve a better, faster and greener recovery, and will help Thailand seize opportunities to achieve its goals to bring us closer to sustainable development.

At MDES, we work for the digital development of the economy and society; for developing and managing the country’s Digital infrastructure to achieve the universal access for all the Thai people for promoting the use of digital technologies and innovations to support the business sector, social development, and government administration; and for elevating people’s knowledge of digital technologies.

To achieve our ambitions, MDES has developed the Thailand Digital Economy and Society Development Plan, which acts as a blueprint for revolutionizing government operations, business practices, and people’s lifestyles. Together with the help of different partners like Huawei, and the trust of various stakeholders, we work nationwide to provide high quality infrastructure such as 5G that will benefit the broadest range of users.

We also work on developing human capital. Investing in training employees with the right technical skills will lead to a rich and inclusive digital ecosystem. Creating, providing and filling high-quality jobs will lead to higher economic productivity. We cannot stress enough the importance of education and training, so people can use technology to the best of their creativity and abilities. 

To ensure inclusive and equal access to digital technologies, we are actively implementing a range of programs Promoting smart city, e-learning, digital health and others. In the government sector, digital advances will enhance public services to offer high standard and secure services using Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things.

Building a better digital economy is therefore a collective effort amongst a wide set of stakeholders. The government and the private sector are collaborating to maximize growth opportunities that present themselves. Together, we can offer transformational products and services, in new markets, to more and more people, and it can only be win-win. 

Digital technology is essential to building a better digital economy to address longstanding challenges, raise living standards and bring prosperity as we work together towards Thailand 4.0.  Let’s try to push the boundaries of what’s possible to improve people’s lives and secure a better future for the next generation.