Pact targets surge in digital volunteers

The Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission (ONDE) entered into a collaboration agreement with nine agencies yesterday in a bid to increase the number of digital volunteers to 300,000 by 2024, with the aim of promoting accessibility and understanding of digital technology among villagers.

The agreement expects a digital volunteer network in villages at the rate of one volunteer per village this year, while increasing the number of digital community centres nationwide to 2,222 this year from 500 at present.

The nine agencies are the National Statistical Office, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency, the Anti-Fake News Centre, the Office of the Personal Data Protection Commission, the Office of the National Cyber Security Agency, the Department of Social Development and Welfare, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Corrections, and the UN Children’s Fund (Thailand).

Putchapong Nodthaisong, secretary-general of the ONDE, said there are around 101,000 volunteers at present, including 100,000 involved in incubation projects under the Department of Social Development and Welfare, with the remainder falling under the Digital Economy and Society Ministry.

The volunteer network has developed and propelled the digital economy in the targeted areas, Mr Putchapong said.

Villages nationwide still lack opportunities to access digital technology and the understanding required that would lead to an improved quality of life, said Mr Putchapong.

“Raising awareness of digital literacy, the use of the internet and knowledge about fake news and cyberthreats are critical needs to enable the integration of knowledge development at the regional level,” he said.

The board of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission previously approved an adjusted framework for the implementation of Thailand’s digital landscape in Phase 3 (2023-2027) — also known as the Digital Full Transformation phase — in line with the rapidly changing technological dynamics and the global economic and social situation.

The goal of the third phase is to add value to the digital economy, with it contributing at least 30% of GDP.

The roadmap also calls for Thailand to reach the top 30 nations in the World Digital Competitiveness rankings, as well as the No.3 in Asean.

Mr Putchapong said ONDE’s move is in line with the national policy by driving the economy and social equality with digital technology.

‘‘ There are around 101,000 volunteers at present, including 100,000 involved in incubation projects under the Department of Social Development and Welfare, with the remainder falling under the Digital Economy and Society Ministry. PutChAPong nodthAiSong Secretary-general, ONDE