Here’s what Thailand needs to thrive

By The Nation

 

 

The incoming government faces a slate of tasks to embrace new technology, curb corruption and foster income parity

 

Several political parties vying for House seats in the March 24 general election have touted policies that will streamline the legal framework for ease of doing business as a means to reduce corruption. The logic is that such an effort, if successful, will also boost Thai competitiveness in the marketplace and help redistribute income to reduce economic inequalities and poverty.

 

Beyond the ease of doing business, the new government also needs to curb monopolistic powers in the business and industrial sectors, especially those enjoyed by a few conglomerates, whose leadership should be barred from influencing public policy.

 

Among infrastructure mega-projects, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) programme is sound and promises to revitalise foreign-investor interest in Thailand, but it alone is not enough to promote development in other parts of the country beyond the three eastern EEC provinces and Bangkok.

 

Boosting Thailand’s international competitiveness is key to the economy’s sustainable growth over the next two decades. Besides the EEC programme, appropriate timing in the auctioning of fifth-generation (5G) telecom service is also crucial to global competitiveness.

 

The new government should therefore review current policy, which is aimed at maximising state benefits from the auction in the form of highest monetary bids and shift the focus to actual development benefits to be derived from the game-changing adoption of 5G technology.

 

In the agricultural sector, digital, e-commerce, big data, Internet-of-Things (IoT), sensor and other technologies are essential to boosting productivity, while reducing costs to stay competitive and in touch with the younger generations of consumers and business partners.

 

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need the same technologies to survive the so-called tech disruption, in which online and offline businesses are being merged seamlessly. The government’s task is to educate, train and re-skill SME entrepreneurs as well as provide financial resources, including loans and grants, to help them adopt the latest successful business models.

 

In this context, no one should be left behind, so both urban and rural community-based enterprises should be covered by the government’s aid programme.

 

Besides the legal framework that better facilitates business and industry, the rules and regulations, especially those governing the issuance of official permits, need to be more transparent so there is no need for government officials to exercise individual judgement, which is a major source of corruption in the first place.

 

The general public also needs easier access to public data as a check-and-balance mechanism on corrupt practices. This can now be done more conveniently thanks to the available digital and mobile technologies. 

 

Overall, key issues are obvious concerning legal reforms for less corruption and economic equality, as well as for better income redistribution and international economic competitiveness via infrastructure investments and adoption of 5G and other disruptive digital technologies.

 

The challenges lie in the country’s political stability following the national polls and the formation of a new government that can really implement all these crucial policies as Thailand returns to the path of democratic governance.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30365858

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-15

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Here’s what Thailand needs to thrive

Fewer Thais would help 

What a load of (well-meaning) crap.

 

"...Here’s what Thailand needs to thrive..."

 

What Thailand needs is to shed the life-sucking power of the military on Thai governance. Until that occurs, Thailand will continue on a path of one step forward, two steps back while her neighbours make steady, forward progress, in time passing the Kingdom as Vietnam is doing now. One member reminded us a short time ago that in the 90s, Thailand was seen as the next big thing; it was a country that was (finally) embracing good governance, that was slowly rooting out the worst of the abuses of power, that was striding to the future with confidence. Anyone recall reading that Thailand is the 'Next Big Thing' recently? Anyone? Anyone?

 

There are many material steps that the Kingdom can take to improve its lot dramatically and quickly, but they all begin with the idea that the life-sucking, creativity-killing, freedom-stopping, security-mad, self-dealing, bloated, wealth-sucking military has to go.

 

Thailand almost (Almost!) threw off this proverbial oxen yoke in the 90s, but it came back. If it wants to see slow and steady improvements on the country, it needs to shed it once and for all.

 

Once that is done, all else falls into place...

 

A nice article filled with platitudes about what should happen.

But it won't as long as the junta has absolute control.

And the junta is filled to the top with corruption.

So nice read, but only one lousy thing will change no matter who gets elected.

 Those elected will find themselves suddenly richer.

The corrupt money will be diluted to pay for these new spongers.

 

It needs fitter, better looking bar girls, instead of lardy munters, staring at their smart phones.

Most of what needs to be said can't  be discussed, so pointless.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Here’s what Thailand needs to thrive

Honesty and moral fibre!...……..

A post with an oversized emoji has been removed.

 

1 hour ago, Prissana Pescud said:

And the junta is filled to the top with corruption.

Amazing statement. The army "government" that said its goal was to end corruption (or some words similar to that).

What Thailand needs to thrive, is honest, caring people who put country before filling their pockets.

The Thai people are too weak to do what needs to be done.  

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The incoming government faces a slate of tasks

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Here’s what Thailand needs to thrive

I'd say Thailand has what it needs or can attain it if willing to do so. Thailand needs to concentrate less on what they need and focus more on what they need to get rid of. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Here’s what Thailand needs to thrive [survive]

There, fixed it for ya.

 

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

What Thailand needs is to shed the life-sucking power of the military on Thai governance...

Sorry Samui Bodoh, had to laugh at your comment as shed the military governance ain't never gonna happen. The military is now so completely entrenched in the current and future 'civilian' government thanks to the new constitution written by and for the Thai military.  IIRC I think at least 24 seats of the future parliament must be occupied by military generals.  And not only is Article 44 not going away, but threats of another military coup have already been made should the Thais start 'misbehaving' again.  The only way out of this death spiral is for the Thai citizens to finally wake up out of their nearly 5 year coma.  Obviously that ain't likely to happen considering Thailand's current majority of walking dead, so the military will blissfully retain control.

 

It is what it is.

"The government’s task is to educate, train and re-skill SME entrepreneurs as well as provide financial resources, including loans and grants, to help them adopt the latest successful business models. "

 

Seriously, the government is not in a position to, nor does it have the ability, to education, train and re-skill.  It would do better to lower the regulatory burden on SME entrepreneurs, and encourage/allow more interaction with international entities.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Here’s what Thailand needs to thrive

More Chinese. They need more Chinese.

'as Thailand returns to the path of democratic governance.'

 

Oh pleeease!

2 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

The Thai people are too weak to do what needs to be done.  

I

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) programme is sound and promises to revitalise foreign-investor interest in Thailand

And if the EEC fall short of its economic promises - too bad.

It can't be altered without a constitutional amendment.

Prayut has linked the EEC program to the 20-year National Strategy that is highlighted in the Constitution that obliges future government to adhere to the plans laid out in it. Cabinet members could be impeached if they refuse to comply with it. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30355356

For at least the first five years of the next elected government, the pro-military junta-appointed Senate will resist any amendment to the constitution to alter Prayut's EEC program.

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

More Chinese. They need more Chinese.

It is a shame that the imogies do not allow a lol statement.

 Because the crazy laugh imogy is used to denigrate, not to respond to humour.

If I got imogy wrong, well you know what I mean.

Good to see some sarcastic humour. Cheers

A police force would help.

4 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

The Thai people are too weak to do what needs to be done.  

The education (indoctrination period) system is working very well isn't it ????

4 hours ago, colinneil said:

What Thailand needs to thrive, is honest, caring people who put country before filling their pockets.

The poor village I live in is filled with these people.

 Because they are in no position to accept graft.

But I suspect a few would accept graft if it was offered.

Because graft and corruption is learned early, every one with a slight hint

of authority expects and takes the envelope.

Part of the culture. But it happens top to bottom.

And you only need to check the rich list to find out who is doing exceptionally well.

 Watches not included

 

8 hours ago, AlexRich said:

It needs fitter, better looking bar girls, instead of lardy munters, staring at their smart phones.

Probably the country would do a bit better if it was not full of men like yourself you who only see  Thai women as a a commodity to bought and abused. 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Here’s what Thailand needs to thrive

Colonial rule.

They need to swap the inhabitants out.

9 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

The Thai people are too weak to do what needs to be done.  

I think they need a "Marie Antoinette" moment to wake up.

9 hours ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

There, fixed it for ya.

 

Sorry Samui Bodoh, had to laugh at your comment as shed the military governance ain't never gonna happen. The military is now so completely entrenched in the current and future 'civilian' government thanks to the new constitution written by and for the Thai military.  IIRC I think at least 24 seats of the future parliament must be occupied by military generals.  And not only is Article 44 not going away, but threats of another military coup have already been made should the Thais start 'misbehaving' again.  The only way out of this death spiral is for the Thai citizens to finally wake up out of their nearly 5 year coma.  Obviously that ain't likely to happen considering Thailand's current majority of walking dead, so the military will blissfully retain control.

 

It is what it is.

 

Sadly true, and yes, it is what it is, despite the protestations of few Thai-o-philes that are left un-disillusioned.

 

Thiland is not going to change. Thais won't be allowed to change, the canker has been ignored for too long, and an election isn't going to solve anything, nor prevent Thailand going the same dismal way as Myanmar.

 

Still, the weather's nice so that's on the plus side. Nobody (so far) has had the balls to call the real problem by its name.

 

 

Get rid of the Foreign Business Act and the ridiculous import duties and things would change overnight. Im all for starting a business i have to give to someone else and not be able to work in it, not.

6 hours ago, peterb17 said:

Probably the country would do a bit better if it was not full of men like yourself you who only see  Thai women as a a commodity to bought and abused. 

 

Sure, better with humourless morons from the West?

 

Edited March 15, 20197 yr by AlexRich