BANGKOK, Jan 11 – Thailand is pushing hard to become Southeast Asia’s hub of interactive entertainment given a surge in domestic game industry to a marketing value of Bt13 billion, a senior official said today.
Anudith Nakornthap, Information and Technology Communication minister said the sales of computer games alone worth Bt5 billion and it should increase by 10 per cent this year.
In his speech at the launch of the 7th Thailand’s Games Show at Bitec Bang-na in suburban Bangkok, he predicted a much larger number of manufacturers and consumers in the game business when the region is tightly integrated as the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
The event, held until Sunday, is jointly organised by the state-run Software Industry Promotion Agency and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Mr Anudith said the promotion of local software industry, particularly animated films, will help push the private sector into the ASEAN film market, adding that the Board of Investment has offered promotional privileges and tax preferences to the industry.
Regarding violence among youngsters as consequences of virtual games, the minister said games have been clearly classified for children and adults but parents should keep a close watch on their children to avoid undesirable problems.
