Creative, service industries way of the future
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Companies should shift to value-added and service industries rather than exporting merchandise to deflect pressure from escalating expenses, the government's chief economic policymaker said yesterday.
“Inevitably, every province must move to increase wages after workers in seven provinces get Bt300 on April 1. Higher labour and fuel costs will drive up product prices, Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said.
“To ensure competitiveness in the market, Thai businesses must focus more on creative and service industries so that they do not have to worry about the cost-push factor,” he told the second Thailand International Creative Economic Forum.
Thailand will promote creative and service industries since they generate more income and improve people’s well-being, he said.
Thailand is one of the middle-income countries, so it has to admit that value creation derived from innovation is essential to fulfilling its true development potential.
To cope with rapidly changing conditions and environments, operators need to change their business mindset that focuses on cutting costs or making use of creativity, Kittiratt said.
As Thailand and every country in the world continue to face higher fuel prices, the government will continue to push for energy-saving and will provide some privileges to businesses that have policies to conserve energy.
To boost efficiency in promoting the creative-economy platform, the government has transferred the National Creative Economy Committee to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The committee this year has been allocated Bt300 million to promote creativity in industries such as digital content, printing and publishing, information and technology, lifestyle, fashion and movie production, Kittiratt said.
Francis Gurry, director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, said the fast development of digital content is a two-edged sword for intellectual property.
More people have recognised the importance of creativity and innovation, but the rapid growth of the cyber world has also caused more violations of intellectual property rights.
Every nation, especially developing countries like Thailand, should increase awareness of IP protection starting with the young generation.
Creativity and innovation, and the recognition of rights, will help propel the economy forward, Gurry said.
