Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategy

The National Strategy: The Future of Thailand

To materialise the vision — “Thailand becomes a developed country with security, prosperity and sustainability in accordance with the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy” — and pursue all the aforementioned goals, it is necessary to formulate the National Strategy, Thailand’s first long-term comprehensive strategic plan, for national development. The National Strategy is designed to uphold the country’s national security, independency and sovereignty; to build the country’s capacity to effectively deal with changes generated by internal and external factors at all levels; to upgrade Thailand’s agricultural, industrial, and service sectors with technology and innovation for higher added values; to develop new economic drivers that will enhance the country’s competitiveness, leading to higher income per capita and more adequate benefits distribution to all parts of the country; to develop Thais to be virtuous, skilful, disciplined, considerate, equipped with analytical skill and consistently able to “Know, Obtain, and Adapt” new technology; to have equal access to basic public services, welfare and justice system, with no one left behind. National development during the National Strategy’s timeframe shall focus on an appropriate balance between security, social, economic and environmental developments, with participation from all sectors in the form of Pracharat model. The six strategies comprising the national strategy are:

  1. National Strategy on Security
  2. National Strategy on Competitiveness Enhancement
  3. National Strategy on Developing and Strengthening Human Capital
  4. National Strategy on Social Cohesion and Equity
  5. National Strategy on Eco-Friendly Development and Growth
  6. National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development

Each strategy has a set of key development goals and guidelines as follows:

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The National Strategy on Security
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Aims to ensure national security and public contentment, with primary emphasis on national contexts management to promote security, safety, independency, sovereignty, peace and order at national, social, and community levels; to prepare and develop human capital, related tools and technology as well as Big Data technology to be ready to address all forms of threats and challenges at all levels of intensity, together with preventing and addressing existing and future national security problems; to employ integrated mechanisms designed to effectively deal with security problems in the public sector, private sector and civil sector as well as non-governmental organisations, neighbouring countries and global alliances, based on good governance principle. These will result in collective efforts to help the implementation of other National Strategies to be effectively successful.

Links:
The National Strategy on Security
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The National Strategy on Competitiveness Enhancement
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Aims to enhance national multidimensional capacity based on the three ideologies: (1) “Learning from the Past for Further Development” with a focus on acquiring true understanding of the origins of the national economy; 8 local identity, culture, tradition and lifestyles; natural resource diversity as well as other multidimensional comparative advantages. Lessons learned will later be integrated with available technologies and innovations to respond to existing global economic and social contexts; (2) “Adjusting the Present” to prepare for the future through national infrastructure development, including transport and logistics, science, technology, and advanced digital systems, as well as environmental adjustment, to facilitate future industrial and service development; and (3) “Creating New Future Values” to enhance entrepreneurs’ capacity; develop younger generations; adjust business models to meet fast changing market demand; implement strategies to accommodate anticipated future contexts with a focus on learning from the past and adjusting the present for further development; and leveraging governmental support to help generate income and employment, expand trading and investment opportunities in global markets, enhance income and general well-being of Thai people, increase the number of middle-class citizens, and reduce inequality.

Links:
The National Strategy on Competitiveness Enhancement
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The National Strategy on Developing and Strengthening Human Capital
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Aims to develop Thai people of all ages in a multidimensional manner to become good, skilful, and quality citizens. The scope covers promotion of physical, mental and intellectual qualities, adequate multidimensional developments, sustainable welfare at all stages of life, promoting public mindedness, and generating social responsibility. Citizens are also expected to be frugal, generous, disciplined, and ethical, equipped with logical thinking and 21st century skills, communication skills in English and a third language. Furthermore, citizens are also encouraged to preserve local languages while encouraged to acquire lifelong learning and development habits. Developments following this Strategy will help promote modern innovators, thinkers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and so forth based on personal skills and abilities.

Links:
The National Strategy on Developing and Strengthening Human Capital
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The National Strategy on Social Cohesion and Equity
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Aims to develop cooperation between private sector, general public, and local communities for strategy implementation. Public involvement will be encouraged as a mechanism to enable cooperation for society in general. This will promote decentralization of power and responsibilities among local administrative organizations, strengthen independent management of local communities, and create viable and healthy economic and social surroundings aimed for quality citizens, who can contribute to families, communities, and society in perpetuity. Furthermore, the government is committed to ensuring equitable and inclusive access to quality public services and welfare practices.

Links:
The National Strategy on Social Cohesion and Equity
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The National Strategy on Eco-Friendly Development and Growth
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Aims to achieve all development aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including society, economy, environment, good governance, and cooperation partnerships at both national and international levels. Strategic and operational plans formulation and implementation will be area-based, with the promotion of all related sectors’ direct involvement to the extent possible. Implementation will target the promotion of mutual growth in terms of the economy, environment, and quality of life. The focus is to create balance among these three factors to promote sustainability for future generations

Links:
The National Strategy on Eco-Friendly Development and Growth
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The National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development
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Aims to reform the public sector based on the concept of “a public sector of the people, for the people and the public interest”. In pursuit of this goal, the size of the public sector must be appropriate in accordance with its roles and missions, with the roles of regulatory agencies clearly defined and distinguished from those of operating agencies. Furthermore, the public sector needs to be open for intersectoral-operations and participation from all relevant parties, to be integrated, and operate on a result-based basis, with good governance and commit to the general public interest at large, flexibility and capacity to adequately adapt to any changes, especially the employment of Big data and digital technologies to help improve the public sector’s performance in accord with international standards. These will result in better, faster, more transparent and responsive public services accurately in accordance with the public needs. All sectors in the society will be promoted to have value honesty, integrity and frugality while resisting all kinds of malfeasance. Laws shall not be ambiguous, redundant and outdated; shall be in line with international standards and practices which will both promote growth and development and eradicate justice system discrimination. The country’s justice system will be administrated in a fair, effective, non-discriminating manner based on the rule of law principle.

Links:
The National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development
Links:
National Strategy (.pdf)
National Strategy (Summary)