Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called on researchers to link their research work with the creative economy concept, in order to strengthen Thailand’s economic and social development.

The Prime Minister delivered a keynote address “Research and Creativity for Thai Society and Economy” on 26 August 2010, when he presided over the launching of Thailand Research Expo 2010 at CentralWorld in Bangkok. Organized by the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand, the Expo aimed to publicize research projects among researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, and the general public and to develop new bodies of knowledge.

Prime Minister Abhisit pointed out that if Thailand could not make use of knowledge development and creativity in order to add value to its economy and solve various problems, the country would face greater difficulties concerning its competitiveness. Although Thailand was successful in pushing for development owing to its labor and resource factors, it is now facing new challenges resulting from the changing situation.

In this connection, he said, Thailand needs to give importance to the creative economy, or knowledge-based economy. Research development should, therefore, be related to the Government’s policy of promoting the creative economy. The Government aims to double the share of the country’s creative economy sector in the next three or five years.

He explained that, in mapping out the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2012-2016), emphasis is placed on value creation based on knowledge and creativity. Then he urged everyone to help develop the creative economy concept in various businesses, linking with Thai culture and wisdom, in order to add value to Thai products and services. He believes that Thailand has good potential for further growth from cultural products, saying that the link of research with creativity would be a powerful force to contribute to national economic and social development.

In his opening speech at the 2010 annual meeting of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board on the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan on 6 August 2010, the Prime Minister said that people’s development in terms of knowledge, capability, and education reform would be a vital process, and it should be linked with the National Economic and Social Development Plan. The process ranges from curriculum changes to system integration, in line with economic and social needs. This is the heart of the reform, which is an important foundation for the enhancement of a knowledge-based economy or the creative economy in the future. As a result, laying the foundation for people-oriented plans in terms of security and potential development must be considered a priority, in order to bring forth an effective economic and social development plan.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on 24 August 2010 hosted a reception dinner in honor of the APEC Business Advisory Council. In his speech at the reception, he stated that Thailand would continue to promote the “Creative Thailand” project at the regional and international levels in order to strengthen its economic system.

The dinner was held under the theme of “Creative Rice, Creative Life, Creative Thailand”, with an objective to disseminate information about Thailand’s creative economy, especially products from Thai rice. The event reflected Thailand’s potential as the world’s largest rice exporter and Thai creativity in producing a variety of rice products. It also included the showcase of Thai rice species, rice-made products, and a demonstration of Thai rice dishes.