The state of information and communications technology (ICT) in Thailand will be in the spotlight at the world's largest telecommunications event, being held in this country for the first time.
From left, NBTC chairmanACM Thares Punsri, ICT Minister Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, ITU regional directorKim Eun-ju and TCEB president Nopparat Maythaveekulchai attend Thursday’s opening ceremony for this month’s Connect Asia-Pacific 2013.
ITU Telecom World 2013 will run from Nov 19-22 at Impact Muang Thong Thani under a government budget of 230 million baht.
In collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the four-day event dubbed ``Embracing Change in a Digital World'' is being billed as a platform for demonstrating Thailand is an ICT hub and business gateway for Asean countries.
Kim Eun-ju, regional director for the ITU, a specialised UN agency, said Thailand is the third Asian location after Hong Kong and Dubai to host the event, as Bangkok is considered a technology hub.
``Given its geographical location, its renowned hospitality and the increasing role of ICT in this region, Thailand has comparative advantages for becoming a regional ICT hub,'' she said.
Ms Kim said the Thai ICT industry has high growth opportunities, but many challenges remain.
Thailand's ICT Development Index (ID) ranking drop to 95th this year from 94th in 2011 due mainly to delays in the third-generation licence auction.
The IDI ranks ICT development among 157 countries and territories worldwide.
This year's ITU Telecom World summit will highlight robotics, network virtualisation, 3D printing, creative new energy resources and wearable technologies.
It will also demonstrate winning digital ideas of the finalists of the ITU Young Innovators Competition.
But the ITU will first host another event, Connect Asia-Pacific 2013, at Impact Muang Thong Thani on Nov 18.
ICT delegates from 38 Asia-Pacific countries and territories will gather to discuss the ITU's ``Asia-Pacific 2020'' vision.
Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap, Thailand's ICT minister, said the two events represent a milestone in the country's ICT development.
``This will be a venue to promote our country's potential and capacity on the world stage, showing our readiness to become a regional ICT hub,'' he said.
Gp Capt Anudith expressed confidence the current political protests will not mar the events.
ACM Thares Punsri, chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said the NBTC will demonstrate its telecom and broadcasting policies in the context of Thailand's ``Digital 2020'' scheme.
Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, said these events will demonstrate the readiness of the country's ICT infrastructure and network connectivity.
This will be pertinent for the growing meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry, expected to generate 96 billion baht from 987,000 travellers next year. The two events are expected to attract 20,000 participants for 3 billion baht in revenue.
