Bangkok--25 Nov--ICT
The Ministry of ICT strongly pushes towards advanced electronics-based Government’s systems to be showcased in the ITU World 2013. Having EGA as host of the event, it’s hoped that Thailand will stride proudly into the era of G-SaaS; being well equipped with most up-to-date software to service Thai people while promising to see outstanding results within next year.
Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr. Surachai Srisaracam has assigned EGA (E-Government Agency) to take on a role to quickly and effectively develop an e-Gov system by focusing on four key areas namely;
1. Peopleware by aiming to produce human resource to support smart country market.
2. Dataware which comprises National GIS, NERS, National Knowledge Management, an MIS (Management Information System)
3. Hardware; due to the ever-changing nature of technology, creating a system to be equipped with Cloud computing feature and such will require overall planning and strategy to prepare for upcoming necessary facilities such as Government Data Center (GDC) which will oversee the entire database system and all related applications, and Government Communication Center (GCC) which needs to be more efficient in order to serve as means of communication within the Governmental sectors.
4. Software; in light of Smart Country Technology (SCT) which is our goal this year, more focus needs to be put on how it can be used in different cases based on practicality.
Besides, ICT Ministry is expediting the process of establishing basic network infrastructure (GIN) which will enable e-Government network to thoroughly cover the entire country. At present, GIN reaches out to over 2000 governmental offices and more than 130 offices are equipped with Cloud Computing system. Not only that, the government’s basic software will be accessible through websites, also known as “Software as a Service (SaaS)”. There will be additional features via Cloud Computing to offer alternatives for users particularly for an outstanding area such as Smart Farmer project, et cetera.
Dr. Sak Sekkhuntod, Director General of E-Government Agency (EGA) revealed that by organizing the ITU World 2013, Thai government will emphasize of the concept of “Thai Government Software as a Service”. Efforts will be integrated ultimately to achieve the highest efficiency and most advanced IT system to serve governmental offices as well as to serve Thai people as key public users; keeping in mind all must be able to access the services without any prohibition or limitation.
EGA has in the past laid down some basic infrastructure for G-SaaS or Government Software as a Service; providing services under Infrastructure as a Service (G-IaaS) which relate to various operational systems and deemed acceptable to most governmental agencies. Now, we are moving ahead by adding on Software as a Service (G-SaaS) as additional online tool for governmental offices to use via Government Cloud Service (G-Cloud) which is linked with other services under EGA’s GIN system. Our goal is to match everything up to one acceptable standard with integration of all programs, combination of all data networks, leading to significant amount of reduction in the Thai government’s expenses.
Our strategy now is to make sure that we fully utilize SaaS bringing utmost benefits to the public users. Beginning firstly with negotiating with the Government to disclose some necessary information and allowing others to use some of the already-set-up infrastructure, this will allow the private sectors to have access to signification data and therefore be able to come up with advanced practical applications for people to use; via mobile devices, laptops, tablets, et cetera. We do hope to see this take place by 2014.
EGA will focus mainly on creating a well-structured IT and Telecommunication systems which will cover all aspects of the Thai Government’s businesses as well as aiming to add more online services to the networks every single year. This will undoubtedly enhance the level of services for all agencies and consequently reducing the national expenses considerably, Dr. Sak added.
Dr. Tawee Narissirikul, Provincial Governor of Nakon Nayok disclosed that the province has launched a campaign called “Smart Province” in the past two years and will continue to push it further in order to propel Thailand towards being a “Smart Country”. This translates to the extensive use of ICT to service the government and its people in the efficient manner. At present, there is a system of information sharing based on health, education, and district offices’ affairs. People are now capable of conducting various business transactions in the form of One Stop Service.
“basic information used to service people in various levels of district, sub-district, community, all the way to provincial level includes demographic figures, information and communication database are linked with websites and Smart Operations Centers. With the use of high speed internet in driving Government Information Network under EGA, along with Smart Box, the general public is now much more able to access various governments’ services, Dr. Tawee stated.
Mr. Vichian Chidchanoknart, Director General of the Department of Provincial Administration disclosed that 103 agencies under the department are now allowing information sharing pertaining to demographic information; amounting to more than 100 million information trading activities which is still considered to be on an uptrend.
Not only that, the department is also working on new and practical applications such as ID verifying application, Smart Card application, high security Pin Code display application, as well as Population’s Picture identification to be used among the department and all related agencies in the future.
Mr. Nattapong Cherdchoo Head of Bangkok Land Transportation area 5 said the Land transportation department had developed the new innovation called “Smart Service” as the integration service such as registration and motor-vehicle tax had been developed the payment procedure to be one stop service, online paying, counter service and the project of the new registration service called “Drive Thru for Tax” which is paying tax without getting off the car and drive through the special lens. As well the mobile counter for the motor-vehicle tax at the department stores some communities called “Shop Thru for Tax at 13 branches of Big C department stores in Bangkok and suburbs. Saturday to Sunday are opened at Central Department Store Ram-intra and the Paradise Park Department Store Srinakarin in order to facilitate the public.
The department had complied the advance technology with the service operation as well as the public transportation which considering to the public interest. In the mean time, the development of e-service would help saving the time to contact with the department. It would linked to the online services and real-time procedure of the database of each government departments also between the government and the private sectors. Moreover it is the benefit of the overall Integrated Database of the department to develop and support the others relates departments such as the Royal Thai Police Office or others as to support and push forward the e-Government project of Thailand.