The government is set to upgrade and standardise senior home care services and products as the proportion of elderly people in the country grows.
Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is scheduled to talk with representatives of the Japanese government during his visit to that country at the end of this month about the development of elderly care services, especially the standardisation of home care services and products.
Japan has vast experience in managing an ageing society, he said.
"Thailand needs cooperation from Japanese government agencies to develop standards for home care services for the elderly here," Mr Sontirat said. "The cooperation should be developed on a government-to-government basis."
He said the Commerce Ministry will hold a joint meeting with related government and private agencies such as the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, the Labour Ministry, the Public Health Ministry and the Industry Ministry to brainstorm the development of elderly care businesses in Thailand and make preparations.
After the brainstorming session, the ministry will propose strategy and policy to develop elderly services to the cabinet, Mr Sontirat said.
He said Thailand is projected to become an aged society by 2020, with 20% of the total population aged over 60 years.
The UN defines a society as aged when 20% of people are over 60.
Thailand has already become an ageing society, as the amount of population aged 60 and older exceeds 10% of the total.
An ageing society has at least 10% of people aged 60 and older.
The National Economic and Social Development Council reports that Thailand had 11.2 million such people -- 17% of the population -- in 2017.
By 2036, the state planning unit predicts the segment to rise to 19.5 million people, or 30% of the total population.
There are an estimated 800 elderly nursing homes registered with the Business Development Department, and the number is increasing given the growing number of elderly in Thailand.
"Thailand has a strength in the quality of workers to provide services to the elderly and has high potential to develop a hub for elderly care services, as well as a production base for medical or elderly care products," Mr Sontirat said.