Steering the NESDB through transition
The think tank has a new boss and soon a new name, writes Chatrudee Theparat
Thosaporn Sirisamphand was officially appointed on July 4 as the new secretary-general of the prestigious National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) after the position was left vacant for more than two months.
Formerly the secretary-general of the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, Mr Thosaporn replaces Porametee Vimolsiri, who was appointed the permanent secretary of the Social Development Ministry.
Mr Thosaporn sat down for an exclusive interview with the Bangkok Post.
What is the future role of the NESDB?
There will be a big change for the state planning unit under the requirements of a draft bill on the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), which will replace the existing NESDB.
The bill will transform the state planning unit into a real think tank that shapes the country’s long-term vision and mission.
The draft bill is now in the first reading by the National Legislative Assembly, and it’s expected to pass the complete reading by the NLA by September this year.
Under the new structure, the NESDC will comprise 24 members selected from related agencies, up from 15 now.
The agency is required to establish a committee to drive the 20-year national strategy, plus a subcommittee to map out the action plan for the 20-year national strategy.
The action plan for the national strategy is expected to have 37 elements, while the action plan should be completed in 2-3 months so that the plan can be executed as part of the fiscal 2020 budget. All state agencies are required to propose their 2020 budget by this December.
The action plan will cover the budgets for fiscal 2018-2022, while the 12th national social and economic plan will extend to cover 2022 in order to make it fit with the 20-year strategy.
The agency is also empowered to establish a special committee to consider special issues.
What is the role of the NESDC in the new national agenda and future trends?
The Institute of Public Policy and Development will be established to conduct research on future trends, which is called
“horizontal scanning”.
The institute will offer attractive salaries in order to persuade human resources to work for the institute, with 20-30 researchers expected to be employed.
A new generation of independent experts will be recruited to work for the institute to cope with new challenges such as an ageing society, rapid urbanisation and human resource development to embrace the Thailand 4.0 economy, focusing on technology and innovation.
The institute will also be allowed to hire private experts, both from Thailand and abroad, to conduct R&D to support the country’s future development and social and economic reforms, as well as map out the 20-year national strategy.
The NESDB board has already approved a proposal to establish the institute, while the cabinet is expected to consider the institute’s establishment over the next two weeks in order to include it in the draft NESDC bill.
The human resources of the NESDC can also switch to work for the institute for 2-3 years in order to refresh their capability and upgrade their potential.
The agency is expected to have an
additional budget of about 200 million baht a year or 1 billion baht over five years, bolstering the annual budget of about 500 million baht a year as it stands now.
What is the agency’s new role in reducing income disparity?
Data from the Community Development Department reveals about 1.2 million lowincome earners, whom the government should assist first. The measures will be designed to fit their demand.
They are a part of the 11.4 million registrants with the Finance Ministry. The Public Policy Division will be tasked with overseeing the income disparity issue in order to enhance the efficiency of the budget allocated to low-income earners.
What jobs will continue under the new unit?
The agency’s key role of analysing and monitoring the investment of state enterprises will continue, as the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo) has said it’s not ready to conduct an analysis of state enterprises’ projects.
The agency will be held responsible as usual for mapping out the country’s fiveyear national social and economic development plan, which needs to comply with the changing social and economic environment and upgrade the country’s overall competitiveness.
The agency is also tasked with mapping out development plans for each region in a bid to improve growth potential and competitiveness.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak recently instructed the state planning agency to revise all existing development plans for each region to conform with national-level strategy, reforms and global changes. As a matter of fact, each region already has its own development plan, but the plans are designed just to serve their own demand.
The NESDB will help improve regional development to become more efficient, more practical and compatible with the national strategy and the changing global environment.
NESDB PLANS
The Southern Economic Corridor will be the first regional development plan handled by the NESDB. The corridor is scheduled to be proposed to the mobile cabinet meeting Aug 21 in Chumphon province.
The northeastern development plan will be the next one drafted.
Regional development plans are required to conform with the country’s 20-year national strategy plan (2018-38).
Under the 20-year national plan, the government aims to narrow the widening income disparity gap in the country to 15 times within 20 years, down from 20 times.
The plan focuses particularly on the richest 10% and the poorest 10%.
To reduce the income gap, the state will focus on income distribution, economic development and legislative reform to give low-income groups access to education, economic opportunity and justice.
The government also aims to raise per capita income to $15,000 (498,771 baht) a year, with average GDP growth of 5-6%. That goal further entails raising competitiveness to break into the global top 20.
Thai per capita income is $6,000 a year, while Thailand ranked 30th in the IMD World Competitiveness rankings in 2018, slipping from 27th in 2017.
Data from the Community Development Department reveals about 1.2 million low-income earners, whom the government should assist first.
THOSAPORN SIRISAMPHAND Secretary-general, NESDB