On the economic front, ASEAN must expand its production base and market from just a domestic level within the country to the regional level within the ASEAN border that boasts 600 million people with wider range of interest.
Due to the global economic fluctuation, rapid technological development, changes in demographics toward an ageing society, and consumer’s growing demand for healthcare and environment, ASEAN Community must join hands to strengthen its economy as well as reducing the risk from this challenge.
Apart from the collaboration within the ASEAN Community, there is collaboration from outside the region in trade, investment, and business relations, such as the ASEAN plus three cooperation.
To get ready, the government has established an ASEAN unit in every ministry to promote concrete integration of ASEAN. Government’s main operation is to raise the competitiveness of the Thai economy. This includes the development of agricultural and industrial zoning, the promotion of SMEs and the One Tambon One Product or OTOP entrepreneurs, development of border immigration, structural development in connectivity for trading, and the preparedness of education personnel.
The Government will work closely with the private sector to help the latter adjust itself to the ASEAN community. There will be an upgrade to the Law to enable the private sector to catch up with international standards and accommodate the trade and investment, along with security, crime prevention, and tourist protection.
The formation of ASEAN Community will inevitably bring in more cultural diversities and identities. Thai people should learn about culture of neighboring countries, and the government is responsible for promoting more connection of people and conserve Thai culture and identity. The Prime Minster has also indicated that this is a very important issue that the government focuses on.