Bangkok--8 Sep--Asian Institute of Technology
The transition from Thailand 3.0 to Thailand 4.0 will focus on investments in people, technologies, and connectivity-based, resource-based and intellectual infrastructure. This will help people move from traditional farming to smart farming, convert Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) into Innovation Enterprises, and help low-skilled workers become knowledge workers.
Elaborating on the vision of Thailand 4.0, Dr. Suvit Maesincee, Deputy Minister of Commerce, Government of Thailand, said that this move will herald a transition from an analog Thailand to a digital Thailand. Technology investments will concentrate on food, agriculture and biotechnology; health, wellness and biomedical sciences; smart devices, robotics and mechatronics; digital technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and embedded technology; and creative, cultural and high-value services. The emphasis will be on social infrastructure and creating an inclusive society based on a welfare system, Dr. Suvit said, while delivering a special lecture on "Thailand 4.0" at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on 30 August 2016.
Dr. Suvit described Thailand 4.0 as "Thriving in the 21st Century through Security, Prosperity and Sustainability." Quoting examples of the United States, United Kingdom, China, India and South Korea, he mentioned that Thailand's creative economy will be based on the three pillars of Science, Technology, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Reforms will encompass economic reforms, revamping of Science and Technology as well as "Research and Development," besides educational reform.
"The need for Thailand 4.0 arises since Thailand needs to avoid the middle income trap, the inequality trap, and correct the imbalance between humans and nature," the Minister said. This can be achieved by creating inclusive green growth engines, he added.
Strategic thrusts under Thailand 4.0 will include connectivity (local, regional and global), and innovative community-drive enterprises. In the field of trade, Thailand seeks to emerge as a node with efforts to convert borders to bridges. He also postulated four shifts - from national to a global market, from trade regulation to trade facilitation, value-addition to value-creation, and a shift from trade in goods to trade in services.
Dr. Suvit also spoke on the role that the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) could play in achieving the vision of Thailand 4.0.
While welcoming Dr.Suvit, AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai stated that the Institute was keen to gain first-hand information about Thailand 4.0. "While the first cycle, Thailand 1.0, emphasized on enhancing the productivity of its agriculture sector; the second cycle, Thailand 2.0, focused on light industries. The third cycle, Thailand 3.0, emphasized on heavy industries for continued economic growth, which has helped transform its economy to the present middle?income status," Prof. Worsak informed the audience, which included students, faculty and staff members, alumni, and guests from partner organizations. "This is an opportunity to hear directly from the person who drove the Thailand 4.0 idea and has led this initiative from its beginning," Prof. Worsak added.
The AIT President also mentioned how, under the Thailand 4.0 initiative, the Thai Government has established the Food Innopolis Project to promote production, processing and marketing of value?added agricultural products. AIT has already signed an agreement with the Minister of Science and Technology for the Food Innopolis Project. To support Food Innopolis, AIT has proposed to host "The International Center for Integrated Food Safety and Quality," he added.
Dr. Suvit was also honored by Dr. Verapong Chaiperm, President of AIT Alumni Association (Thai Chapter). Later Dr. Suvit toured an exhibition of AIT products and innovations, and interacted with senior AIT faculty members and experts.
The video recording to the Special Lecture can be viewed at this link: http://livebroadcast.ait.ac.th/special_lecture/dr_suvit.html
The presentation of Dr.Suvit is available at this http://www.ait.ac.th/news-and-events/2016/news/1thailand-4.0-english-dr.-suvit.pdf