Bt200 bn investment goal backs push into robotics

Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said there are three development measures covering demand, supply, and human resources and automation and robotics technology.
Under the development measures, demand will be stimulated through investment promotional privileges for the use of robots and automation systems to boost efficiency in the manufacturing and service industries, he said.
The Board of Investment (BOI) will give tax deductions at 50 per cent for personal income tax relating to the robotic and automation operations used to improve manufacturing and service efficiency. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) will waive income tax by 300 per cent as part of its efforts to support research on robotics and automation systems.
The Bureau of the Budget will explore ways to support the procurement of robots and automation systems to serve the people, while the Ministry of Industry will employ measures to promote small and medium-sized enterprises through soft-loan programmes.
On the supply side, system integrators will be targeted to rise to 1,400 with planned maximum BOI privileges and the MOF's tax waiver for imported parts and equipment for making robots and automation systems. Currently, there are 200 system integrators.
Through human resources development and upgrades of robotic and automation system technologies, a Centre of Robotic Excellence will be set up by the government, the private sector and educational institutions to aid the further development of more complex robots.
Under the research and development plan, at least 150 commercial robotic products are targeted within five years with investment of no less than Bt12 billion in related industries and supply chains for the first year of promotion.
The investment is set to jump to Bt200 billion within five years as a means to promote Thailand’s ownership of its robotic technology and to export robots and related equipment within 10 years. Thailand is expected to reduce imports of this kind of technology at the rate of Bt132 billion a year.
Thailand's targeted industries will also gain from this industry's development, which will be in line with global trends in industrial development. 
The International Federation of Robotics forecasts the robotics industry will see growth of 40 per cent year for several years.
However, Thailand gains robotic benefits at 59 robots per 10,000 people, lower than the average of 69 robots per 10,000 people. Singapore employs 398 robots per 10,000 people and Taiwan uses 69 robots per 10,000 people.
“The development will upgrade manufacturing technology and efficiency. Thai manufacturing operators will be focused on the country's development in fields including agriculture, medical services, logistics, tourism and services,” Uttama said.
So-called smart and large-scale farming will promoted, for example, while the problem of labour shortages in the future will be solved, he said.