CEBIT Asean highlights tech’s role

CEBIT, Europe’s largest festival for digital exhibitions, conferences and networking, will stage the first CEBIT Asean event in Thailand through a collaboration of public and private groups.

The Digital Economy and Society Ministry, the Science and Technology Ministry and private companies such as Microsoft, Logitech and ABeam are ready to join the event.

The government’s mission is to transform Thailand into a 21st-century economy with two main drivers: the development of people and technology, and the Thailand 4.0 policy.

Technology is crucial in the digital age, said Soranit Siltharm, permanent secretary of the Science and Technology Ministry.

The digital market in Asean is expected to grow to more than US$200 billion by 2025, up six times compared with 2015 levels, according to Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president and chief executive of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency.

Thailand is a key economic hub of Asean, with digital and IT spending of $12.7 billion in 2017.

Pun-Arj Chairatana, executive director of the National Innovation Agency, said the Thailand 4.0 policy will transform the country into a value-based, innovationdriven economy with an emphasis on R&D and technology.

CEBIT Asean Thailand spans every topic of relevance for business and society. The first edition will cover communications and networks, infrastructure and security, data and cloud, business solutions, peripherals and accessories, IoT and smart technology, and emerging technologies (AR/VR/UAV/ robotics/3D printing).

The event runs Oct 18-20 at Impact Muang Thong Thani.