Thailand to drive ahead digital ASEAN measures

BANGKOK, January 21 (TNA) - Taking the role of the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, Thailand is driving forward five digital ASEAN measures to connect all member countries as "one". Thai Minister of Digital Economy and Society Pichet Durongkaveroj announced the stance while delivering a speech at a business seminar jointly organized by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) and the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) in Bangkok on Monday. Pichet said that the five digital ASEAN measures, earlier agreed by relevant ASEAN ministers, including the cross-border ASEAN link through the digital system, the development of smart cities and the cyber security, the development of the ASEAN digital economy through the e-commerce system and the development of human and social resources. The minister acknowledged that for Thailand, the government-supported Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project is used as a common area with all other ASEAN member countries to jointly develop the advanced digital technology in the region. The minister stated that the 1.28-square kilometer- Digital Park Thailand, located in Si Racha area of the seaside Chon Buri Province, has been prepared to be the ASEAN common area, where the regional digital technology is jointly developed, with the construction of its first building on a plot of land of 80,000 square meters for the joint development of the Internet of things (IoT) and the artificial intelligence (AI) having been started. "Both Thai and foreign business operators are welcome to invest in the development of smart cities and digital platforms at the Digital Park Thailand as part of the potential EEC Project, in which such new mega-infrastructure investment plans as a high speed train system linking three major Thai international airports, a Map Ta Phut deep seaport and an extended Laem Chabang deep seaport are also being developed, along with the development of 10 targeted innovative industries where international investors are also welcome to invest", the minister revealed. Kalin Sarasin, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) Board, in his capacity as JSCCIB Chairman, mentioned that the Thai private sector is taking action towards a joint investment in a "big data" project in ASEAN where comprehensive data and information in trade and investment of member countries will be integrated to facilitate the expanding regional trade and investment. (TNA)