Bid to boost tech among small manufacturers

The Industry Ministry is preparing to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) upgrade their factory technology to robotic and automation systems under a 2.5-billion-baht soft loan programme.

Only 25% of factories in Thailand currently use robotics, automation and systems integration (SI), according to the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE).

The soft loan, with an annual interest rate of 1%, will help SMEs improve and modernise their factory operations in line with the government’s Thailand 4.0 scheme, which emphasises a transition to technological advances and high-level services.

The money is being allocated from an SME fund under the Pracha Rat scheme.

Authorities want to see factories adopt new technology, add value to their products and reduce any unpleasant impacts caused during production processes on the environment, said Industry Minister Suriya…