BANGKOK (Bernama-Xinhua): Thailand is accelerating the development of smart cities, aiming to enhance the country’s digital capabilities and the quality of life for urban communities towards a sustainable future.
Designated as a national agenda, the government is strategically leveraging technology for the development of smart cities, with a focus on sustainable economic growth, resilient urban development, and adaptability to change, said Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce.
Amid global challenges, smart cities are positioned as a solution to efficiently manage large-scale data, known as big data, used to formulate effective policies, address issues promptly, and contribute to economic and social development, Phumtham noted in his opening remarks at the Thailand Smart City Expo 2023 on Wednesday.
According to the organiser, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), the exhibition provides an opportunity for city administrators and project managers from the public and private sectors to learn more about innovative technologies, as well as for technology businesses and distributors to meet with clients.
The three-day event, scheduled from Wednesday until Friday, attracted over 300 local companies and overseas exhibitors, including China’s Huawei, which showcased its smart city initiatives, enabling digital transformation through a human-oriented, technology-driven, value-sharing society.
Huawei has closely cooperated with local partners on the ecosystem of smart cities, Sheldon Wang, senior vice-president of the Enterprise Department at Huawei Thailand, told Xinhua.
“We are currently having several smart city projects in the fields of safety, planning and infrastructure in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, such as in Rayong Province and the seaside resort city of Pattaya.”
As of July, the Southeast Asian nation has approved 36 cities in 25 provinces as smart cities, with plans to target more cities as the government has consistently promoted urban development through tailored policies aligned with regional growth, according to the DEPA. – Bernama-Xinhua
