Above photo: (L-R) Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak; Minister for Digital Economy and Social Affairs, Dr. Pichet Dangrongvej/ Photo credit: Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
To support the development of a digital economy in line with the Thailand 4.0 agenda, the Thailand government is planning to set up an Internet of Things (IoT) Institute and a government big data analytics centre.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said that the big data centre will develop a government database and enable the public sector agencies to harness data for analysing their work and for better decision-making. The National Statistical Office of Thailand will lead the development of the big data centre.
The IoT institute will be a part of the Digital Park to be built in Chon Buri province, as a flagship project under the Eastern Economic Corridor. The Park aims to attract investors by offering numerous benefits and provide an environment for domestic and foreign digital professionals to collaborate. It will focus on the development of S-curve industries (Automation and Robotics, Aerospace, Bio-Energy and Biochemicals, Digital and Medical and Healthcare), which can serve as growth engines to accelerate Thailand’s future growth. The ministry is planning to spend Bt100 million to draw up the Digital Park master plan and Bt1 billion (USD 30 million) to build the Digital Park building next year on a site of around 700 rai or 280 Acres.
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) is responsible for the establishment of the Digital Park, along with the IoT institute.
According to Bangkok Post, the IoT institute will operate as a consortium, including MDES, local and international universities and other private sector players, and research institutes, including the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center.
The Deputy Prime Minister also talked about extending Internet access to villages around the country, explaining that it is about leveraging the Internet for social and economic development.
Along these lines, the Ministry will work on the development of an e-marketplace and integrated platforms for e-payments and e-logistics. This is expected to drive the growth of e-commerce and provide access to a much wider market for small and medium enterprises and people in the countryside to sell their local products and hence, enhance their competitiveness.
