Thailand’s Sectoral Maritime Policies and Relating National Committees
Thailand does not have an integrated national maritime policy. All policies relating to the utilization of the sea are disaggregated within various issues. Broadly, at the national level there are 3 mains policy sectors namely; the security sector, the economic sector, and the sustainability sector. On the security sector, there is an integrated National Maritime Security Plan which is approved by the National Security Council of Thailand and endorse by the government. On the economic sector, there is an integrated National Economic and Social Development (NESD) Plan which is approved by the National Economic and Social Development Board and endorsed by the parliament. The NESD plan includes maritime commerce and industries policy but excludes energy policy and fisheries policy as there are separate National Energy Policy Council which is endorsed by the government and the National Fisheries Board which is also endorsed by the government. On the sustainability sector, there are the National Environment Board which excludes the National Marine and Coastal Resources Management Policy and Planning Board. Both policies are endorsed by the government. It is noticed that almost sectoral maritime policies are not salient enough as they are integrated within various policy sectors. Furthermore, some policies are overlapped such as the NESD Plan and the Merchant Marine Promotion Board. The other overlapped policies are the National Environment Board and the National Marine and Coastal Resources Management Policy and Planning Board. Optimistically, the national maritime security policy is already integrated. However, it needs to be endorsed by the parliament. Recently, a draft of the National Maritime Interests Protection Act is on the process of legislation by the parliament. In sum, Thailand needs an integrated national maritime policy to manage its national maritime interests effectively.