Thailand forms AI committee to boost digital economy
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is advancing its plans to form a new national artificial intelligence (AI) committee as part of its effort to advance the second phase of the national AI strategy.
DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong recently announced the initiative at the Huawei Digital and Intelligence APAC Congress 2024 in Bangkok. (Photo: pattayamail.com)
Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is advancing its plans to form a new national artificial intelligence (AI) committee as part of its effort to advance the second phase of the national AI strategy.
The move aligns with Thailand’s ambition to become a hub for the digital economy and AI within ASEAN.
DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong recently announced the initiative at the Huawei Digital and Intelligence APAC Congress 2024 in Bangkok. He outlined that the new AI committee, which requires cabinet approval, is anticipated to be established by June.
The committee will be chaired by the prime minister and include various agency representatives. The ministry is working on several flagship projects to bolster digital transformation. These include the Cloud First Policy, which is currently in the drafting stage for related regulations. A team of experts will also be formed to oversee cloud usage standards, security, and procurement guidelines.
In parallel, the National Digital Economy and Society Commission is focusing on ethical AI use and is planning to finalise AI regulations by the end of May to address violations of AI ethics.
Minister Prasert also detailed additional digital initiatives, such as the development of a national AI service plܫatform and a large language model tailored for the Thai language. Moreover, the ministry has set ambitious goals for digital ID adoption, aiming for 50% of citizens to use digital IDs in 2024./.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing to promote early morning and evening tourism to stabilise the market, as extreme hot weather has kept people from taking part in outdoor activities.
Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella on May 1 announced significant commitments to build new cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Thailand, provide AI skilling opportunities for over 100,000 people, and support the nation’s growing developer community.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
