Their transaction value is expected to reach Bt120 million by the end of this year.

The ministry is in the process of upgrading 600 out of the existing 2,280 community ICT centres nationwide to become digital community centres.

ICT Minister Uttama Savana-yana said the digital centres would promote community products like rice, silk, crafts, food, and tourist areas via the online channel. They would also be a venue where community members can come to acquire knowledge.

“We have learnt that more and more people have their own smartphones and are starting to join online e commerce; they need wireless access to search for more information and sell their products online. So we’ll provide free Wi-Fi access to each of these digital centres,” Uttama said.

The ministry will provide to the digital centres high-speed free Wi-Fi, a computer set for graphic design, printer, a TV and media box to watch educational channels, as well as meeting desks. Free Wi-Fi would be offered for one year.

Initially, the ICT Ministry will send experts to the digital centres to teach the communities how to sell their products online via Facebook and Instagram, plus how to create packaging, and state regulations on e commerce.

Each centre will have one leader to administer and manage the centre so as to become a self-supporting centre in the next year.

He said digital community centres would also be a co-working space for communities to hold meetings for business planning and a learning centre for all people.

“We expect that more than 1 million people from the centres can reach and learn on the Internet within a year,” Uttama said.

Last week, the ICT minister visited the Digital Community Centre in Buri Ram and Roi-Et provinces in the Northeast.

In Roi-Et, the highlight is the Digital Community Centre in Wat Photikaram, led by the abbot of the temple – Phra Kru Photiveerakun.

The centre offers co-working space for members in the community with an open-air coffee shop for meetings on selling products, plus free Wi-Fi. Popular products of the community are honey, rice, and handicraft dolls. Revenue from the shop will support the centre’s further development.