The government is developing an ICT master plan for Asean connectivity to implement practical guidelines for digital collaboration across Asean countries.
The development is to prepare the country for Thailand's chairmanship of the two Asean Summits in 2019, said Digital Economy and Society (DE) Minister Pichet Durongkaveroj.
The Asean ICT master plan is expected to help shape more effective cooperation in a wide range of areas, including harmonisation of digital laws and regulations in the region, acceleration of development in regional infrastructure connectivity and creation of a digital workforce.
"Details of the master plan are scheduled to be finished soon, then will be submitted to the Asean chairmanship collaboration committee for endorsement by September," Mr Pichet said on Thursday at Thailand Focus 2018, the annual seminar organised by the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
Thailand ranks third among Asean countries in activity on the digital development index, after Singapore and Malaysia.
Mr Pichet said Thailand can benefit from hosting the Asean Summits to drive progress on the digital transformation roadmap through practical collaboration with other Asean members.
Thailand's image will also be raised, he said.
The master plan will encompass four key focus areas: digital infrastructure connectivity; harmonisation of laws and regulations; a roadmap for smart city development; and digital workforce development.
Th DE minister said the government is working closely with the private sector to drive development of the country's digital economy ecosystem under Thailand's 20-year digital roadmap.
The roadmap includes five key strategies for the development of digital infrastructure, digital government, cybersecurity, digital technology and the digital workforce.
"We aim to reduce disparities in rural areas, enhance personal income distribution to promote community well-being and build capacity for the digital age," Mr Pichet said.
To achieve these objectives, the government is promoting access to affordable digital infrastructure, including free WiFi access to all villages nationwide.
Providing digital literacy training is another area the government is spotlighting to build a quality digital workforce, an essential element for the development of the country's digital economy.
The government wants to see all Thai people have basic knowledge of technology and make use of it in daily life. Thai ICT businesses will also have to develop more upstream technology capabilities.
The government has empowered 150,000 villagers with digital literacy learning. The target is to reach 1 million villagers by the end of 2018.
The state aims for all villagers to have free WiFi access by May 2019 through the government's national broadband network for villages under the Net Pracha Rat project.