Thai government urged to set clear ICT policies

BANGKOK, December 18 (TNA) - The Thai government has been urged to reform or to set clear policies on information and communications technology (ICT) to increase the country's comparative advantage in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Speaking on Tuesday at a seminar organised in Bangkok by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Telecommunications Association of Thailand’s President Vichai Bencharongkul proposed that the government set clear ICT policies or even has the whole Thai ICT industry reformed, through a lesson learnt from the developed world. Vichai acknowledged positive outlook for Thailand’s large-scale ICT firms in ASEAN, but cautioning that small and medium-sized enterprises or SMEs could face difficulties in expanding their businesses into other ASEAN member countries if they got no support from the government. Vichai suggested that Thai ICT SMEs be, thus, provided sufficient knowhow to cope with remaining obstacles in the industry and to make best use of all opportunities provided in the 10-member ASEAN. Adviser to the Chairman of the NBTC Sujate Jantarang, meanwhile, said that, as a regulator, NBTC is encourage local SMEs to start up their businesses with lower operating costs and the government to further develop ICT infrastructure to facilitate expanding Thai ICT businesses into the growing regional market. (TNA)