Thai government tailors 12th national development plan

BANGKOK, July 16 (TNA) - The state-run National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) is drafting the 12th national economic and social development plan for 2017–2021. NESDB Secretary-General Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, who is also Deputy Transport Minister, chaired a brainstorming session with journalists in Bangkok on Thursday, during which he said NESDB focuses the new national economic and social development plan on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, plus people-oriented development, sustainable national development and the happy Thai society. Arkhom revealed that the National Reform Council (NRC)'s NESDB commission has proposed to work out a strategy on upgrading Thailand to be a developed country by 2032, when Thai people are targeted to earn 40,000 baht monthly each on average and the country's gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 6.5 per cent annually. Under the strategy, Thailand will also be targeted to be a business hub of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the next 10 years, a drop in corruption and the country's rank in competitiveness being on the list of the world's top 10 countries. Arkhom explained that NESDB will have to adopt the national strategy laid out by NRC for its 20-year strategy, which will then be divided into five-year national economic and social development plans for future implementations. According to the NESDB chief, the new national economic and social development plan is expected to be completed later this month, after which it will be submitted to the Thai Cabinet for consideration and to NRC for deliberation and further steps. (TNA)