Thailand’s Board of Investment organized a seminar “Thailand Taking off to New Heights” on 19 March 2018 at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center. The seminar features a keynote address by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and high-level panel discussions on economic reform initiatives and latest investment policies implemented by the Thai government. Prominent speakers at this event include Dr. Uttama Savanayana, Minister of Industry, Dr. Kobsak Pootrakool, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, and Dr. Pailin Chuchottaworn, Deputy Minister of Transportation. Over 3,000 participants attended the seminar. 

          In his keynote address, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid highlighted three strategies to transform the Thai economy into an engine of growth and reposition Thailand as an investment, logistic and tourism hub within CLMV and ASEAN. The three strategies include 1) Development of mega projects to improve physical infrastructure in order to support linkage to regional markets and the Belt and Road Initiative as well as to promote tourism among cities in Thailand, 2) Investments in the EEC to upgrade industrial clusters and create seamless transport and logistic systems, and 3) Implementation of Thailand 4.0 policy with emphasis on digital transformation, and e-government. The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed his optimism for the continued acceleration of Thailand’s economy. He also noted significant improvement in Thailand’s international ranking, particularly World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business which improved 20 positions to 26th ranking in one year.

          Dr. Uttama Savanayana, Minister of Industry, outlined the government’s plan to undertake proactive industry policy based upon development of 11 targeted industries. He stressed the need to develop human capital to serve the need of industries 4.0, and urged a renewed focus on partnership to develop and use technology, while at the same time promoting technology access and intensified technology usage.  

          Dr. Kobsak Pootrakool, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, highlighted the 20-year national strategy and 11+2 sectoral reform plans developed by the government to boost national competitiveness and support innovation and adoption of technology. He stressed that the reform target was to advance Thailand to become a developed nation. He also indicated that the focus of the reform would be on the development of new generation of infrastructure, advanced and innovative industries, new set of laws and institutions.

          Dr. Pailin Chuchottaworn, Deputy Minister of Transportation, presented Thailand’s 20-year transport system development strategies poised to become 

a paradigm shift in the country transportation system. The new strategies would focus on building one seamless transport system covering all modes of transportation including rail, road, sea, and air. He also highlighted that, in 2018, 44 transport projects would be expedited with investment value amounting to 57.7 billion US Dollars.

          The seminar also featured information kiosk on the latest Smart Visa program, and as well as display of latest information on the Eastern Economic Corridor, the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation and Digital Park Thailand.

          Presentation document of each speaker can be accessed through the following link http://to2018.boi.go.th/to2018-speaker-presentation/