The Thai government has just announced five schemes on hardinfrastructure, soft infrastructure, service infrastructure, promotionand innovation, and society and knowledge as part of efforts to develop adigital economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakulawas quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying that the digital economywill drive Thailand forward in the region.

TheElectronic Transactions Development Agency will introduce e-documentsso government offices could offer faster services to the public, hesaid, adding that the government plans to set up a National DigitalEconomy Committee in charge of policymaking.

Six subcommittees,staffed by people from both the private sector and the government, willsupport the accomplishment of the digital economy within one year,according to him.

The Thai government will cooperate withthe private sector to provide suitable information technologyinfrastructure while still boosting confidence in hard and softinfrastructure to support the digital economy.

For serviceinfrastructure, the government will create a platform to support theprivate sector as well as develop the digital skills of people andprovide universal access to improve the efficiency.

Thailand now has more than 26 million Internet users, 33 million Line members and 28 million Facebook users.-VNA