Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is slated to be an arterial node for trade, investment, and regional transportation, besides also serving as a strategic gateway to the Southeast Asian region.
Just this Tuesday, Thailand’s cabinet approved the transfer of three senior head officials from the country’s Ministry of Education amid a probe into alleged malfeasance in relation to the construction of the Songkhla Lake Aquaculture Research Centre, an aquarium and marine research centre in the southern province of Songkhla. This is the latest step in a high-profile corruption probe that the ministry is conducting.
The Education First (EF) 2017 English Proficiency Index does not paint a very good picture for most ASEAN countries with the exception of Singapore which holds fifth place in a study that includes 80 countries. In comparison, Malaysia comes next in 13th place, Philippines in 15th, Vietnam in 34th, Indonesia in 39th, Thailand in 53rd, Cambodia in 77th and Lao PDR in 80th.
In line with its Thailand 4.0 goals, the Land of Smiles has been on an active lookout for foreign investors willing to finance projects under this initiative.
As a primate city, Bangkok – Thailand’s largest city – is the foremost potential smart city in the country. It was recently inducted into the first cohort of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) in Singapore last April. Thailand has taken positive steps towards realising a digital economy and the development of smart cities is a priority.
Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba has entered into a strategic partnership with the Thai government. It is representative of the growing collaboration between Alibaba and the Thai government. Two years prior, the duo signed a Letter of Intent, which established the foundation for joint efforts to boost the capacity of Thai entrepreneurs in gaining access to new markets and capitalising on digital innovations.
The seaside province of Rayong, located on Thailand’s eastern gulf coast is well known for its tranquil holiday beaches, crystal clear waters and a dazzling selection of fresh tropical fruits from nearby fruit orchards. The picturesque town is the perfect place for a weekend’s escapade – 180 kilometres from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or just a two and half hour drive away. However, Rayong may not be a getaway from the fast-paced urban lifestyle for much longer.
Thailand’s start-up growth comes hot on the heels of strong start-up progress in Singapore and Indonesia. For the Thai government, driving Thailand towards digitisation under the Thailand 4.0 initiative is key. Foreign investors too are looking in on the potential in the region.
The future of Thailand’s industrial sector lies in robotics and automation.According to Varin Rodphotong, from the Centre of Robotics Excellence (CoRE), robots will significantly help improve the competitiveness of domestic industries in Thailand.
