The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has approved the establishment of a new Digital Ministry aimed at increasing the country’s economic potential and social development.
The new ministry will have the administrative scope to plan, promote, develop and implement activities related to a digital society and economy. The agency will have its own ministerial and permanent secretary offices and also supervise the National Statistics Office, the Thai Meteorological Department and the new office of the Digital Commission for Social Affairs and the Economy.
The NLA unanimously approved the bill with 122 votes on Friday.
The committee considering the legislation issued a note to the cabinet to implement the following recommendations:
Firstly, the scope of law should cover economic and social activities driven by digital technology so government agencies can integrate the mechanism of private and public sectors to move forward cohesively. Digital technology should have a role in all areas of economic and social development.
Secondly, the ministry should issue announcements to create appropriate agencies to drive the government’s policies for the effective and efficient development of the digital economy.
Thirdly, the government should speed up the restructuring of government agencies and personnel to allow the new ministry to function efficiently and effectively.