PM prioritises digital upgrade

PM prioritises digital upgrade

At Digital Big Bang 2018, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha both watches and is embedded in a demonstration of a facial-recognition system by Central JD Fintech, a partnership between Central Group and China's JD Finance. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
At Digital Big Bang 2018, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha both watches and is embedded in a demonstration of a facial-recognition system by Central JD Fintech, a partnership between Central Group and China's JD Finance. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Thailand aims to play a key role in driving digital development in Southeast Asia to help reduce inequality, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Wednesday.

The country will take over the chair of Asean in 2019 and use this as an opportunity to drive digital development so the bloc can grow and strengthen together, the prime minister said.

He made the remarks at the opening of a forum called Digital Thailand Big Bang that was organised by the Digital Economy and Society Ministry at the Impact Exhibition Centre.

"Thailand's digital competitiveness has substantially improved to 39th place this year [up from 41st in a study of 63 regional economies] but we want to move forward together with other countries. We won't leave anyone behind," he said.

Malaysia dropped from 24th to 27th place, the Philippines fell from 46th to 56th, Indonesia crept down three places to 62nd and Singapore lost its top spot to settle at No.2. Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam were not included in the ranking system.

Gen Prayut said improving digital technology was considered a key engine to drive the economy, production, trade, services and education. He described it as a core part of the regime's 20-year national strategy,

Digital Thailand Big Bang, designed as a showcase of how the public and private sector is developing digitally, runs until Sunday at Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong.

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