BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun has called for a speedier transformation of Thailand’s people, businesses, and government as geopolitics, trade, demographics, environmental requirements, and technology reshape the global economy. Speaking at KBTG Techtopia: Human of Tomorrow in Bangkok on September 16, she presented her “Thailand Today: Building a Runway Towards the Future” vision, identifying people, infrastructure, regulations, and clean energy as foundations for the country’s future economy.
Suphajee called for greater export diversification, with the United States and China accounting for about one-third of Thai export value, while SMEs represent most exporters but receive a relatively small share of revenue. She also urged Thailand to move beyond digital adoption toward broader transformation through AI, workforce development, digital infrastructure, data centers, cybersecurity, and effective governance. Thailand ranks 29th among 69 economies in technology, 37th in knowledge, and 45th in future readiness under the IMD World Digital Competitiveness assessment.
The government is also pursuing a shift from primarily regulating businesses toward creating an economic environment that supports their development. Commerce Ministry priorities include connecting government data for faster decision-making, developing SME capabilities through the DBD Academy, and linking companies across supply chains. Data integration among 23 agencies has helped reduce registrations of juristic persons identified as posing nominee-related risks by 81% as of the end of August 2026.
Suphajee also proposed expanding inbound and outbound economic opportunities by moving from a conventional tourism economy toward a broader visitor economy and positioning Thailand as a destination for technology talent. Regionally, the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement could give Thai companies greater access to a market of more than 600 million people through digital payments, interoperable systems, and cross-border rules. (NNT)
