China's Huawei Technologies is focusing on five key industries in Thailand where it sees the most potential resources to generate revenue growth for its enterprise business, in line with digital transformation efforts.
Wang: SE Asia a dynamic market
The five sectors are public safety, transport, energy, finance and manufacturing, said William Wang, head of the company's Southeast Asia enterprise business group.
"Thailand has been a top three potential market for Huawei's enterprise business in the region for years because of digital economy development, driven by both Thai enterprises and government policy," he said.
Mr Wang said Southeast Asia is experiencing a more dynamic digital transformation than other regions, with Huawei's enterprise business seeing annual double-digit growth.
"Digital technologies are evolving rapidly, and both companies and governments realise the future is moving toward highly digital and intelligent societies," he said.
Enterprise business models are being reshaped through the rise of four critical tech adoptions: cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.
Mr Wang said Huawei is helping its enterprise customers address various challenges during their digital transformation through a twofold strategy known as "Platform + Ecosystem".
The strategy works with partners to build an open, flexible, elastic and secure platform.
The company wants to strengthen industry alliances, open-source communities and developer platforms to grow the industry and form a community with shared interests, he said.
Huawei supports over 1,000 partners across Southeast Asia, with more than 400 of them based in Thailand.
"Huawei positions itself as a driving force, an enabler and a preferred partner during the digital transformation to propel customers' business ecosystem," he said.
Huawei predicts the 5G wireless broadband ecosystem will create US$56.7 billion (1.89 trillion baht) potential market and almost 4.56% of Thailand's GDP by 2035.
Mobilised by 5G, manufacturing will be the top industry, contributing $14.3 billion or 25.2% of Thailand's economic output, followed by agriculture at $6.6 billion.
Huawei's said the 5G economy is a core part of digital transformation and a new engine to beef up Thailand's GDP growth and social development.
Several countries are competing to offer the first commercial 5G service next year, including the US, South Korea, and Japan, but China will be first, said Huawei.
Developing the 5G ecosystem is one core national strategy for several leading countries, as its effects will not only transform the economy, but society as a whole, the company said.
Huawei said the domestic economy must transform from being industry-driven to innovation-driven, in line with the government's Thailand 4.0 initiative that comprises smart industry, smart cities and smart people.