Somkid calls for haste in consideration of funding for digital projects

The fund, chaired by Somkid, has around Bt5 billion, which was allocated to it by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.
State and private sectors can apply for funding to develop digital projects.
The fund has earmarked Bt2.6 billion for projects this year and Bt2 billion for projects next year.
Somkid also assigned the fund to set up a subcommittee to speed up the process of granting funds to qualified recipients. The subcommittee will have to make decisions on funding every month. This will see the quick injection of funds into the economy, he said.
Kobsak Pootrakool, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister for political affairs, said that 130 projects worth Bt12 billion had applied for funding this year. However, the fund had yet to convene to consider the proposals.
He added that the fund would complete consideration of all proposals for this year within the next few months. The fund will focus on projects involving cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and development of digital skills.
Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punakanta said at the fund meeting on Monday that the granting of Bt2 billion for next year’s projects would focus on health-tech and agri-tech projects.