BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul chaired the first 2026 meeting of the Joint Public and Private Sector Committee for Economic Problem Solving (JPPCC) to enhance collaboration between the government and the private sector in addressing economic challenges. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas, serving as deputy chair, along with relevant ministers and representatives from the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking, which includes the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, and the Thai Bankers’ Association.
The Prime Minister stated that the meeting introduced a new approach to public-private cooperation, offering the private sector a direct role in national economic development. He noted that the government initially considered an Economic Cabinet model but later adopted an Economic Cabinet Plus approach to include private-sector leaders. The committee will meet monthly, or at least every six weeks. Approved policy proposals or urgent measures can be submitted directly to the Cabinet to streamline procedures and accelerate implementation.
The meeting approved a framework to advance four strategic areas supporting seven target industries: semiconductors and advanced innovation, digital and AI, electric vehicles, clean energy, high-value processed agriculture, comprehensive medical services, and creative tourism. Four subcommittees were established to oversee new investment, trade and community economy, human resources and technology development, and business facilitation. The Prime Minister directed them to prioritize quick, high-impact (Quick, Big, Win) measures and report progress to the full committee every two months, with urgent action plans expected to be considered at the next meeting in August. (NNT)
