5 Jan 2018

By Wichit Chaitrong-The Nation

THE NATIONAL Strategic Committee on Country Competitiveness aims to push Thailand to become a super power in the global agriculture market .

The committee has completed and handed over its first draft to the National Economic and Social    Development Board (NESDB), the state think-tank, said committee chairman Sathit Limpongpan, also a former permanent secretary for finance.

Sathit says Thailand has an comparative advantage in the agricultural sector, for example it is one of world’s leading rice exporters.

There were more than 25 million people depending on the farm sector, or about 38 per cent of country population in 2015. However, the sector accounted for less than 10 per cent of country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Most of the lower-income people work in the farm sector, despite the fact that the country houses some of the giant food companies.

Sathit says the challenge is to boost the income of small farmers through

turning commodities into high value products, for example local herbs could be turned into medicine or cosmetic products, according to the committee.

Government should also boost trade and investment links with Myanmar and India via the Dawei development project in Myanmar, he said .

Progress of the Eastern Economic Corridor project will contribute to the economic linkage with Myanmar and India, he said, making Thailand Asia’s super corridor, said Sathit.

The strategy also emphasizes development of the digital economy by creating an infrastructure conducive to future services and industries, such as medical wellness service and electric vehicles.

More efforts would be made to support small |and medium-sized enterprises and startups, he |added

The committee and NESDB will hold public hearings on the strategic plan in four provinces namely Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Songkha next month. It would be amended before submitting it to the Cabinet for approval.

The country competitiveness strategy is part of 20-year national plan covering six areas, including national security, which will bind next governments to follow for another 20 years.

Critics have said the 20-year strategic plan was an attempt by the junta government to stay in power for a long time.

(ACCESSIBLE AT: The Nation)