Bangkok February 1, 2024 – Solidifying its position as the top-quality news station close to the hearts of viewers, TNN Channel 16 organized a grand seminar, the Dinner Talk ‘Thailand Level Up: Upgrading the Nation,’ featuring the honorable Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the Minister of Finance. In his special address, the Prime Minister outlined the vision of ‘Keeping pace with the world, the economy, and every truth,’ emphasizing policies to uplift the grassroots, reduce social disparities, and drive investment in the electric vehicle industry through the ‘Landbridge’ project. Over the past four months, the government has made significant strides in various areas, including debt relief programs, livelihood support, electricity and fuel subsidies, minimum wage adjustments, and addressing agricultural product pricing. Efforts have been directed towards combating PM 2.5 air pollution, tackling the drug addiction issue, and advancing Free Trade Agreement negotiations to open new trade markets. In terms of investment, the government continues to support emerging industries, such as electric vehicles (EVs), with the recent establishment of manufacturing plants by Chinese companies, generating employment opportunities and attracting investment to Thailand. Simultaneously, attention is maintained on supporting the growth of Japanese automotive factories, which have historically contributed to the country’s economic development with the presence of Mr. Suphachai Chearavanont, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Charoen Pokphand Group and Chairman of the Executive Committee of True Corporation, Mr. Ongard Prapakamol Head of TrueVisions & Media Division, Managing Director of TNN Channel 16, and Dr. Teerapon Tanomsakyut, Chairman of the Information and Communication Strategy Group of the Charoen Pokphand Group, a warm welcome was extended at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Bangkok.
Additionally, the event received the honor of Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, “who addressed the challenges facing the Ministry of Commerce. He emphasized the need to create a balance for both consumers and producers, coupled with proactive policies to reduce expenses, increase income, and expand investment opportunities. Regarding the country’s upgrading strategy, he stressed the importance of considering the environmental and labor aspects in all dimensions. This includes aligning production with the regulations of the new global order to enhance the competitiveness of Thai products.” Furthermore, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, spoke on the topic of “Setting the Minimum Wage Target to 400 Baht per Day.’ He proposed the establishment of a tripartite committee to study which businesses could afford a wage increase. Recognizing the potential impact on SMEs if a blanket wage increase were implemented, discussions are expected with the Prime Minister to differentiate minimum wages based on professions and regions. It is anticipated that the announcement of the minimum wage, set at 400 Baht per day for certain occupations, will be made in April. The emphasis is also on enhancing capabilities and skills for all labor sectors to increase income for the Thai workforce.” Mr.Chayatan Phromsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, “Reiterated the significance of the global-scale project ‘Landbridge’ in the context of Thailand’s pivotal transformation. This project is instrumental in establishing production bases for the global market, fostering international trade, tourism, and propelling the country’s GDP growth. It is anticipated that significant progress in the Landbridge project will commence in the fourth quarter of 2569 (2019) and the first quarter of 2570 (2020).” Mr. Chamnan Srisawat, Chairman of the The Federation of Thai Industries, “Addressed the multidimensional development plan for tourism, both online and offline, aiming to stimulate international tourists to explore both the main and secondary cities of Thailand.” Concluding the event, Mr. Saengchai Teerakulwanich, Chairman of the The Federation Thai SME, emphasized that the government needs to oversee the interest rates of SMEs. “This includes implementing measures to facilitate access to funding to enhance the capabilities of SMEs through workforce upgrades. Additionally, a crucial aspect involves addressing regulatory obstacles in trade.” The event received positive response, with a significant number of participants attending the seminar, along with a diverse audience tuning in through TNN2 channel 784 and online platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. For further updates and interesting activities, viewers can follow TNN Channel 16 on all online platforms.
