New strategy to focus on service business

Bangjongjitt Angsusingh, director-general at the Business Development Department, said the department will soon complete the service business strategy and plan under the government’s New S Curve, and present it for approval to the Cabinet in June so that the targeted service industries will have a clear-cut strategy and be supported by all related government agencies and the private sector.
The targeted service businesses that will be developed include health and spa, electric vehicles, and service business that involves use of robots.
The draft strategy will be proposed next month to Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn and Deputy Commerce Minister Sonthirat Sonthijirawong before it is passed on to the Cabinet for ratification.
Bangjongjitt said the strategy needed Cabinet approval, as the department could not solely support service business development from upstream to downstream. Other involved agencies such as the Public Health Ministry, the Commerce Ministry, and the Industry Ministry must link all business support strategies so that targeted industries will be developed and supported in keeping with the government’s vision.
Under the draft strategy, there will be plans to develop human resources in each targeted industries, the setting of standards and rules and regulations for each service industry development.
She said that after the strategy is prepared, service businesses would play a more significant role in the Thai economy from the current level to more than 50 per cent of Thai gross domestic product. Moreover, after the development of those industries, other related industries such as herbs and pharmaceuticals, laboratory service, and others will also be promoted under the supply chain.