FTI chief begins his second term with focus on smart agriculture
The next two years will be spent implementing practical measures to boost Thailand's industrial competitiveness, beginning with smart agriculture to expand the country's potential in food, herbs, cosmetics, supplements, biochemicals and biofuel, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Kriengkrai Tiennukul, said on Tuesday.
FTI members across the country voted unanimously to confirm Kriengkrai’s second term as their chief.
The primary focus, he said, would be on furthering the practice of Smart Agriculture Industry by collaborating with Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon to run a pilot project on a specific plot of land in Bangkok. The land will serve as an initiative for all FTI members nationwide to learn about smart agricultural technology before implementing it in their businesses or other local areas.
"Smart agriculture will be the country's solid foundation for developing its own manufacturing. I believe that Thailand's agricultural products, combined with technology and innovation, can propel the country's industrial sector forward and make it one of the world's most important manufacturing hubs, particularly in food, cosmetics, supplements, herb extraction, and bio-related products," Kriengkrai said.
The ultimate goal is to use these pilot projects to create entrepreneurs across the country in accordance with the FTI vision of “One Province, One Industry”, he said.
When asked why he was starting with agriculture, he explained that the sector was Thailand's backbone and strength. Increasing the value of agricultural products from upstream to downstream will provide the country with a competitive advantage in the global marketplace.
"This is our long-term commitment to increasing the nation's competitiveness while smoothly transiting to next-generation industries under the Bio-Circular-Green Economy concept, which aligns with global sustainable development goals," he said.
He highlighted the importance of supporting the country's small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by providing them with digital literacy, an innovative mindset, and the ability to export. The strategy is also known as the three GO: Go Digital, Go Innovation, and Go Global.
Among many challenges at present, the FTI chairman said the most pressing issue that needed to be addressed immediately was the massive amount of cheap, low-quality imported goods from China.
He pointed out that goods dumping would threaten Thailand's manufacturing efficiency in the long run, citing the fact that 40% of manufacturers nationwide have already stopped making their products in favour of using imported goods and labelling them as their brand because they are cheaper.
"Restarting the production line will be extremely difficult once the production process has stopped. Finally, we will lose the capacity to make in Thailand and our competitiveness," he warned.
He promised that the FTI would prioritise this issue. The federation intends to hold discussions with government agencies, including the Finance Ministry, to improve the monitoring system at various checkpoints to prevent these low-cost products from entering Thailand's territory.
He said that FTI would consult the Industry Ministry about stricter safety standards in order to prevent the sale of poor quality products.
Furthermore, FTI will consult with the Commerce Ministry on the implementation of anti-dumping and other preventative trade measures to ensure a free and fair market.
"These are issues that the FTI must address to prevent a serious threat. It is all a short-term response that must be implemented immediately," he emphasised, urging the public, private, and educational sectors to support FTI projects before it is too late.
