Five Deputy PMs Unveil Strategy for Thailand’s 14th Plan to Attain High-Income Status
Five Deputy PMs present Thailand’s draft 14th National Plan, targeting high-income status within 12 years through bureaucratic and economic reforms
- Thailand's 14th National Plan, unveiled by five deputy prime ministers, aims for the country to achieve high-income status within 12 years through comprehensive economic and bureaucratic reforms.
- Key targets of the plan include sustaining annual economic growth above 3%, elevating Thailand's global competitiveness into the top 20 rankings, and securing OECD membership.
- The strategy involves a multi-faceted approach focusing on fiscal discipline, enhancing trade and support for small enterprises, proactive foreign policy, and long-term investment in science and human capital.
- Implementation will be driven by new frameworks, such as a "football team" model for public-private collaboration and a "4 Pillars of New Diplomacy" policy to navigate global instability.
Five deputy PMs present Thailand’s draft 14th National Plan, targeting high-income status within 12 years through bureaucratic and economic reforms.
Five Deputy Prime Ministers jointly announced national strategic directions under the draft 14th National Economic and Social Development Plan at the National Economic and Social Development Council’s (NESDC) annual meeting on 30 September. Speaking on the special panel “Thailand in an Unprecedented World: How to Change to Move Forward,” the ministers outlined a coordinated strategy titled “Transforming Thailand to Go Further.” The plan aims to navigate growing geopolitical instability and global economic fragmentation while transitioning the public sector from theoretical strategy to concrete execution. Key national economic targets under the framework include: Achieving high-income country status within 12 years; Sustaining annual economic growth exceeding 3 per cent; and Elevating Thailand’s global competitiveness into the top 20 rankings by 2029.
Structural Reform and Fiscal Discipline
Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, highlighted four major national challenges across economic, environmental, social, and political spheres.
Describing Thailand’s current economic structure as an "ageing workforce using outdated machinery", he urged immediate fiscal discipline, an accelerated transition to clean energy, and workforce development powered by artificial intelligence.
To execute the 14th Plan, Ekniti introduced a “football team” model through the Joint Public and Private Sector Consultative Committee framework:
Forwards: Seven primary growth industries driving economic expansion;
Midfielders: Cabinet ministers facilitating policy implementation and investment; and
Defence: Financial authorities safeguarding fiscal stability and addressing household debt.
He emphasised that success depends on clear, measurable targets, game-changing priorities, and eliminating administrative silos.
Trade Resilience and Support for SMEs
Suphajee Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, presented a trade framework designed for a multipolar global economy, structured around three core pillars: balance, growth, and distribution.
Suphajee pledged to reform regulatory burdens and improve access to capital for small enterprises, transforming their survival prospects.
Globally, Thailand will focus on deeper integration into value chains under principles of mutual benefit, including establishing a joint committee with China to increase local sourcing in processed foods and pharmaceuticals.
She also confirmed strict enforcement against nominee companies and an expansion of market access through the Thailand–EU Free Trade Agreement and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.
Proactive Diplomacy and Strategic Autonomy
Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced a shift toward proactive international relations under a “4 Pillars of New Diplomacy” policy.
He stressed that Thailand must maintain strategic autonomy amidst competing global powers.
“We cannot remain neutral without a clear stance. Our position must be defined by our national interests and principles,” Sihasak stated.
The Foreign Ministry is expanding economic diplomacy into emerging markets across Kazakhstan and Africa, while urging the civil service to step beyond traditional boundaries to deliver unified foreign policy.
Deep Science and Human Capital Investment
Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, outlined plan targets focused on deep scientific infrastructure and molecular-level innovation.
Acknowledging that human capital development takes time, Yodchanan stressed that sustained investment provides long-term value and builds public confidence in the nation's trajectory.
People-Centred Governance and OECD Accession
Pakorn Nilprapunt, Deputy Prime Minister, underscored that the fundamental philosophy of the 14th Plan rests on a people-centred approach, balancing economic growth with social well-being to restore institutional trust.
The government plans to modernise legislation, restructure public administration, and reform budgeting frameworks. Following structural updates, public sector compensation and employment terms will be adjusted to align with market mechanisms.
Furthermore, the administration aims to secure membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) during the 14th Plan period (2028–2032).
Addressing public awareness, Pakorn noted that despite the OECD’s establishment in 1961, recent surveys indicate limited domestic understanding of the organisation, highlighting the need for greater public engagement with global policy standards.
Source: Krungthep Turakij
