THE Information and Communications Technology Ministry will propose to the Cabinet today that it approve a budget of Bt15 billion to develop high-speed broadband Internet across the country, while a further Bt5 billion will be spent to develop an international Internet gateway.
The pilot broadband project will be launched in Phuket, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said at the 'Mega Dive Thailand Competitiveness' seminar yesterday.
The broadband move was a part of efforts to boost Thailand's competitiveness, Somkid said, by focusing on four areas - infrastructure, innovation, education, and research and development.
He said investment on high-speed broadband Internet was the first priority to undertake, while investment in national logistics - the East-West and North-South transport systems - would also start this year.
The Ministry of Science and Technology would also set up research and development projects to that they amount to 1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) next year - up from 0.5 per cent this fiscal year. This was a part of boost innovative products and becoming an innovative nation.
"We also reform the education budget from a set up per head so that if focuses on education performance," he said.
All economic ministries such as Commerce, Industry and Finance had to reform so that they focus on how to drive the economy and help balance people's incomes, especially to lift incomes for people in agriculture so it matches with people in the industrial sector.
"All of this will dive the country's competitiveness has improve from the ranks by IMD World Competitiveness Center," he said.
Thailand ranks the30th from the World Competitiveness Scoreboard 2015 or dropped from the 29 thy in the year 2014. This ranks by IMD World Competitiveness Center.
All of this would boost the country's competitiveness and lift its ranking by IMD World Competitiveness Centre, he said.
Thailand ranked 30th on the World Competitiveness Scoreboard 2015 and dropped from 29th in the year 2014.
This ranking was by IMD World Competitiveness Centre.