Thailand’s Great Potential for Increasing Its Proportion of Creative Economy Value

(20/09/2011)

Because of its cultural heritage, including local wisdom, art, and craftsmanship, Thailand has great potential for increasing its proportion of creative economy value. The Director of the Intellectual Property Promotion Office, Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce, Mrs. Auramon Supthaweethum, said that Thailand is ready to serve as the creative economy network center for various countries in the ASEAN region. Mrs. Auramon spoke about the creative economy at a forum organized by the Foreign Office of the Government Public Relations Department (PRD) on 15 September 2011 at the PRD Auditorium in Bangkok. Joining the forum were about 50 PRD officials from the central administration and public relations offices in all parts of the country. Mrs. Auramon quoted a report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development that Thailand ranked 19th among various countries in the world and the first in the ASEAN region, with the highest creative industrial value. The Thai government in 2009 set a policy to increase the country’s proportion of creative economy value from 12 percent to 20 percent of GDP by the year 2012. In response to this policy, a total of 10 provinces have been selected as “creative city prototypes” from 73 provinces and 109 cities nationwide. The 10 provinces include Chai Nat, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Phetchaburi, Maha Sarakham, Yala, Lop Buri, Lampang, and Ang Thong. The Department of Intellectual Property will push for further development of these provinces in terms of the creative economy. Mrs. Auramon said that although Thailand is rich in cultural and geographical diversity, which offers great opportunities for promoting the creative economy, the country still needs more infrastructural facilities to help develop creative industries. In the policy statement of the Yingluck Shinawatra administration delivered to the National Assembly on 23 August 2011, the Government will enhance competitiveness and broaden market access for industries, domestic services, and small and micro community enterprises by integrating them into the creative economy. The objective is to produce goods and services with high value and quality while promoting a knowledge-based, skill-based, and creative society. The Government will also support innovation from research and development and traditional knowledge-based product branding, especially for arts and crafts, community products, and jewelry. In terms of marketing, trade, and investment, the Government will develop goods and services that create new income-generating opportunities and meet the demands and preferences of global consumers, taking into account the concepts of innovation-driven creative economy, utilization of local wisdom, and environmental considerations.