However, Prayut insisted that the strategy was intended only to provide a broad picture of what future governments could do to drive the Kingdom efficiently.

The premier stressed that more integrity was essential to keep the country on pace with a fast-changing world, including handling global treats.

The Kingdom must also enter the “Thailand 4.0” phase, when the country should prosper based on innovation and technology development, he said.

Prayut was speaking at a government-hosted seminar on the integrity of the country’s steering actions and reforms. About 1,000 civil servants attended the event at a Bangkok hotel while 5,000 provincial civil servants observed the seminar via video conferencing.

The PM said all ministries and governmental agencies had to integrate their performances together to achieve the best results. For instance, he said agencies related to technology and the economy needed to work together to efficiently drive fresh concepts for the digital economy.

He expected Thailand to work towards a value-added, environmentally friendly agricultural industry rather than pure agriculture like in previous eras. The government’s concept of Pracha Rath (People and State Working Together) was required to develop industry from the grassroots. It also forced villagers to be economically independent.

His Majesty the King’s sufficiency economy philosophy will be maintained as the country’s guideline for the economy, he said.

He urged Thais not to split politically so the country would be best placed to respond to a business-based world. “There are no sides now in this modern age. All countries need to do trade deals with each other. So why are we splitting ourselves?” he asked.

Prayut warned that Thailand must not “fall into its own traps”, referring to challenges such as the long-standing middle-income trap, the lack of skilled labour, social inequality and the ageing society.

He spoke of Thailand’s potential as an Asean hub and rich economic opportunities in the region.

Prayut also promised that the government’s plans must be carried out without corruption and he would not “play soft” against wrongdoers.

At the seminar, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan emphasised the importance of national security in moving the country forward.

Prawit admitted that after the coup Thailand was no longer a democratic country but said the government was trying to restore democracy.

He said he felt thankful that the prime minister decided to end the country’s unrest two years ago by staging the coup, which allowed it to get out of deadlock.

“To move the country forward, we have to build trust among the people. And to build trust, security work is key,” said Prawit, who is also the defence minister. He added that security bodies and concerned stakeholders had been integrated to secure people’s safety and the country’s sovereignty since the coup.

The National Security Council works with the Border Patrol Police and immigration authorities and administration bodies to chart working plans, he said, and the Internal Security Operations Command is in charged of implementing security plans.

The junta also focuses on military cooperation with the international community, he said, adding that Thai military attaches have been sent abroad to strengthen military ties with other countries. He asked civil servants to intensively tackle drug, crime in general and natural disaster issues.

Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong recounted the government’s achievements over the past two years, highlighting the Pracha Rath scheme and saying it called on the public and private sectors to work together in planning and implement projects.

He said the government expected that by middle of next year the public and private sectors would start working together in the scheme.

The government hosted the seminar to create an understanding among civil servants and the public regarding the regime’s administration and reform plans.