Mr Pornchai arrived in Phuket on Friday (August 14) to hear first hand an update on the progress made to support the ‘digital economy’ policy by Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) Phuket office, headed by Pracha Asawatheera.
The project, titled “Flagship”, aims to develop Thailand’s digital economy and to draw foreign IT investment into the country.
Mr Pornchai explained that Flagship has three main objectives:
- to attract more private investment into IT hard infrastructure
- to encourage private IT-sector businesses to form a consortium to present to the government unified ideas of what is required to attract and support digital workers and investors in Thailand
- to encourage the private IT businesses to present new ideas for the digital industry
“The central government wants to push Thailand into the digital world as a priority policy, and SIPA is in charge of taking care of this and will move forward with the Flagship project to promote our digital market and industry,” said Minister Pornchai after the meeting on Friday, held at the Yacht Control Centre at Chalong Pier, where he inspected the IT infrastructure there.
“The Flagship project will focus on new ideas to create special regulations to promote healthier marine ecosystems and it will also help to develop digital human resources and digital corporations attract more foreigners to come to invest and work in Thailand.
“Phuket has been chosen to pilot the project,” he said.
At his meeting on Friday, Mr Pornchai met with local officials and representatives from local digital industry private businesses to gain feedback and new ideas to push the project forward.
“The Flagship project in Phuket will have a direct impact on digital employment. The number of skilled foreign workers will multiply and SIPA hopes that many foreign companies will use Thailand as their hub for IT production factories and design companies,” Minister Pornchai noted.
SIPA manager Mr Pracha added, “SIPA has discussed this project with many private IT businesses in Phuket, as well as local consulate offices, Chamber of Commerce members, tourism businesses and academic staff and college students to get everyone ready for the Flagship project and to promote digital market in Phuket.
“It is critical to develop our digital economy by staying on the fast track because the digital industry and commerce is dependent on technology, which is ever-evolving and fast-changing,” he said.