“After visiting numerous provincial areas, I find that our technology in processing agricultural products is not capable of competing with other countries,” he said. 
“These local people are using local knowledge to process their products. I saw their potential for production, and thought that universities must provide additional know-how to them in improving their products’ design and packaging,” he added. 
Somkid also said that the government wanted Thai universities to produce personnel who can support S-curve industries that the government aimed to promote, and also minor tourism areas. 
“To reduce social inequality, we must improve local communities,” he concluded.

Somkid tells universities to produce economically suitable personnel

Thai universities must help groom students who are in step with modern industry to make the East Economic Corridor competitive, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said on Thursday (February 6) at a meeting of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand.