Bangkok: Depa aims to create 105 smart cities by 2027, preparing local governments to use government cloud services to provide public services.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, emphasized the Ministry’s mission to leverage digital technology and infrastructure as vital tools for national development. The focus is on improving citizens’ quality of life, enhancing government service efficiency, and boosting Thailand’s economic competitiveness in the digital era, promoting stable and sustainable growth for society. The Ministry is committed to propelling the policy of “accelerating the development of digital government,” ensuring digital technology serves as a pivotal tool for delivering fast, transparent, and accessible services to the public.
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society also stresses the importance of upgrading digital skills among citizens, recognizing that sustainable smart city development hinges on residents possessing the necessary digital competencies. The goal is not just to create modern cities, but to develop urban areas that cater to their inhabitants, utilizing technology meaningfully to provide safer, more convenient lives while fostering career development and higher incomes.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattapon Nimmanphatcharin, Director-General of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), highlighted depa’s mission to advance smart city development in Thailand through collaboration with government bodies, the private sector, and local authorities. This involves policy creation and mechanisms to stimulate smart city growth, enhancing urban potential and readiness for development in all aspects. Over the past six years, depa has established 37 smart cities and aims to expand to 105 by 2027. This effort includes equipping local governments to use cloud services for public services, integrating city data for policymaking, employing advanced technologies like AI and IoT for efficient city management, and promoting digital skills for citizens to partake in smart city creation.
Depa has crafted a master plan for phase 2 of promoting the digital economy, aiming to support smart city development through Strategy 3: Creating new opportunities and distributing prosperity via smart city initiatives. This strategy seeks to harness technology and innovation to boost city service efficiency through projects like Smart Living, the Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index, Smart City Logo incentives, and various digital support programs.
Mr. Sakchai Patrapreechakul, Executive Director of N.C.C. Management and Development Co., Ltd., announced that the Thailand Smart City Expo 2025 will showcase smart city development technologies and innovations across seven key industry groups, including SMART Telecom, SMART Energy, and SMART Healthcare. The event, scheduled for November 5th to 7th at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, aims to propel urban development in Thailand and the ASEAN region using smart innovation. The expo is expected to attract over 15,000 attendees from the public and private sectors, both domestically and internationally, generating an economic impact exceeding 1.2 billion baht.