The state planning unit has been instructed to function as the leader of all government agencies and rev up mapping strategies to focus on seven agenda items, including balancing the economy and bioeconomy development.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak told senior officials of the National Economic and Social Development Council during a visit on Thursday that the NESDC needs to upgrade human resources to become a real think tank that can lead the public on social and economic issues.
"The economy has grown more than 3% on a consecutive basis for several quarters," Mr Somkid said. "The state agency should, for instance, advise on how to drive economic growth to reach 4-5% and give suggestions to the cabinet and all ministries on development projects that could be implemented or scrapped."
According to Mr Somkid, the NESDC should focus on seven areas to ensure long-term economic sustainability: building a greater balance between exports and the local economy; bioeconomy development that helps increase the value of farm products; digital development among startups, small and medium enterprises and state agencies; and education and human resource development.
Other areas are urban development and links between Thailand and Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam; capital market development; and good governance development among state agencies, especially officials in provinces that play a significant role in helping the government develop microeconomies.
The export sector accounts for as much as 70% of Thailand's GDP, while agriculture makes up just 10%.
The government has aimed for the farm sector to contribute more to GDP, Mr Somkid said.
Thosaporn Sirisamphand, secretary-general of the NESDC, said the agency is set to propose strategic plans for bioeconomy development to the new government.
Bioeconomy development will be a part of key projects the government aims to promote in the Northern Economic Corridor that will span Nakhon Sawan and nearby provinces, focusing on increasing sugar-cane value, and the Southern Economic Corridor, which aims to increase the value of oil palm and rubber.