Depa chief outlines 20-year roadmap
Agency to target 4.0 digital transformation
The new chief of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) has outlined a 20-year roadmap for driving innovation and new technologies as part of the agency’s efforts to push Thailand into the 4.0 era.
Formerly known as Sipa, Depa will be a key arm of the Digital Economy and Society (DE) Ministry to use digital technologies to transform the economy and society, said Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, Depa’s newlyappointed president.
“We aim to increase income per capita to US$12,000 per person per year in the next two decades, up from the current $5,000,” he said.
Depa is restructuring its organisation to keep up with the digital era, with the process scheduled for completion by July 23, 180 days after the agency’s establishment.
The new structure is expected to have five divisions: administrative, for legal, financial management and procurement affairs; special project, which is responsible for flagship initiatives; economic development; social development; and community development.
Depa will continue to develop its existing investment projects worth 300 million baht this year.
Mr Nuttapon said the number of employees at Depa will increase to 130 in 2017, and to 220 over the next five years.
He said Depa’s 2017-37 goals include: supporting the creation of 500,000 digital entrepreneurs and startups; reducing digital exclusion by increasing online accessibility to 24,700 communities in 77 provinces; bringing One Tambon One Product producers and small companies to use more digital technologies; and enhancing online transactions in manufacturing and trading sectors.
To achieve the goals, Mr Nuttapon said Depa needs to develop digital skills that could boost the economy and society. Digital literacy academies will be provided to 16 million workers and startup companies.
Depa will encourage the use of advanced digital technologies across industries, including drone and analytics for the agricultural sector to improve productivity and the use of robotics in the automotive sector.
The agency is looking to ease any regulations that cause barriers to the industry in order to facilitate digital entrepreneurs and startups, and promote Thailand to become a tech startup centre in Asean. This could attract startups from other countries to set up in Thailand.
He said Depa is also encouraging companies involved with digital and innovative products to investment more in research and development to bring developed products and services to be on par with global standards.