NRSA endorses plan to reform country’s economy

A total of 157 NRSA members voted in favour of the report, with only one voting against it and two abstentions. Proposed by the assembly’s economic reform committee, the report would be submitted to the Cabinet for further proceedings.
The country is gearing up towards Thailand 4.0 – a new economic model based on innovation and knowledge.
Sathit Limpongpan, chairman of the economic reform committee, explained to the NRSA members that the new economy revolving around bio-economy, creative and cultural economy, digital economy, social economy and silver economy needs a new ecosystem in order to grow and prosper.
The committee therefore proposed a reform plan for the government to consider. The plan includes review of the existing mechanisms, division of industries and services based on market demands, provision of appropriate ecosystems, and provision of bodies or authorities to take charge of the tasks.
Kasit Piromya, a member of the NRSA, while agreeing that the new economy could demand changes, said that authorities should be thoughtful about taking a leading role in the economic realm as such a role matches that of a socialist government.
In a democratic country, Kasit said the private sector has to take the leading role and the government the supporting role.
Aside from that, Kasit also pointed out above all political environment was the most important factor influential to foreign investments. The investment figure had been dropping in the past two to three years since the junta stepped in, he said.
The NRSA initially had in its agenda to discuss over strategic petroleum reserve but it got pulled off and the responsible committee would present it directly with the Energy Ministry.