President of Thailand Development and Research Institute (TDRI) Somkiat Tangkitvanich (Source: thaipbsworld.com)Bangkok (VNA) – The new government of Thailand should invest heavilyin developing the country’s manpower to make it survive in the fast-movingdigital economy, President of Thailand Development and Research Institute(TDRI) Somkiat Tangkitvanich has said.
According to him, the Thai workforce was facing digital disruption, andif they do not improve themselves with necessary skills, they will end uphaving to move out of the labour market.
He suggested the new government develop skills of the national workforceso it is ready to serve the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
From 2015 to 2018, investments in the EEC worth 1.014 trillion baht (33billion USD) have been approved and most of them are in the sectors ofpetrochemical, auto, agriculture, bio technology, robotics and aviation.
Most of these industries require workers who have high expertise and theability to learn quickly, he stated.
Meanwhile, Preedee Daochai, chairman of the Thailand Bankers’Association, said that the new government will also have to boost the ease ofdoing business for Thai exporters and that the Bank of Thailand will have tobring down interest rates as soon as possible to make Thai exports more competitive.
The 10-billion-baht economic stimulus that the new government isexpected to implement will not be enough to cushion the decline in Thai exports,he stressed.
Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, proposed thegovernment be more proactive in supporting Thai exporters by implementingshort-term measures to boost shipments, including improving logisticsinfrastructure at Thailand’s borders to cut down on the transportation costsfor business.
Kalin also suggested that Thai authorities talk to neighbouringcountries about making their customs formalities available 24 hours so the flowof goods within the region can be improved. He cited the 24-hour customsfacilities already available at Songkhla’s Sadao district.-VNA
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