New ‘eGov’ bill to be considered

A draft law designed to streamline public services in support of digital transformation will be tabled to the cabinet for consideration next month, PM’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool said yesterday.

The “electronic government” bill was unveiled while Mr Kobsak was delivering a speech on the country’s strategies on innovation at the launch of the Thailand Economic Monitor, a report issued by the World Bank Thailand office.

The bill will be instrumental to the government’s efforts to increase efficiency in public services, he said.

Mr Kobsak, the country’s entire research infrastructure must be overhauled as large amounts of money have been spent on research projects that have yielded very little positive benefit to the public.

The draft law will be designed to oversee and streamline research and innovation projects and it is likely to be introduced by the end of this year, he said.

Under the “electronic government” bill, a core agency will be set up to lay down policies on research and innovation. Various research agencies will also have their workflows synergised and streamlined under the proposals.

According to Mr Kobsak, the mindset must also be changed.

“Gone will be the era where research is carried out in the hope it may be of use in the future. Currently, there are more than 100 research papers on tourism, yet only 10 serve any practical purpose.

“State-funded projects should be evaluated and if they fail to deliver they should be blacklisted,” he said.

According to Mr Kobsak, Thai universities would also be asked to develop and strengthen their research capacities based on the needs of the job market.

Another element concerns development of human resources, according to the minister.

Tax deductions will also be offered as incentives for private firms to develop their personnel.