“Since the launch of the terrestrial-based digital TV broadcasting service in the past three years, we have been witnessing the migration of audiences into the new service, particularly from incumbents of the analogue system,” Kematat Paladesh, president of the Radio and Television Broadcasting Professional Federation, said.

Also, Nielsen’s Television Audience Measurement suggested that the digital TV audience share in the first half of this year, saw new digital TV viewers rise to 33 per cent from 2 per cent in the same period in 2014 when the service started. In the meantime, analogue TV viewer numbers slid to 44 per cent, as of the end of June, from 66 per cent in the same month in 2014.

However, when it came to revenue generation, Kematat said it appeared to be a different story. He said TV business operators faced fierce competition while bearing high costs, both from production and content acquisition. Under such unavoidable pressures, he said some media firms opted to offer employees early retirement or redundancy.

“Having those tough conditions, it seems so hard for local TV operators, particularly in the category of family and kids’ programmes, to create good quality content to support long-term growth in the entire industry and to create a learning society,” he said.

The media federation also noted that a big question centred on regulatory frameworks that failed to support the industry. Since the beginning of the digital TV era, all involved parties have been pushing the broadcasting regulator to help reduce costs when businesses are in trouble due to geopolitical changes.

Among other things, businesses called for more flexibility in the collection of annual fees, which was recently approved by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

Under this new adjustment, the current fixed rate will be changed to progressive scales.

Another issue that has not met industry expectations relates to the plan to transition from analogue to digital.

“All Thai households should be fully funded to buy a full digital TV receiver set,” Kematat said.

“This will encourage them to enjoy watching new digital TV programmes without any charges. The NBTC offered, in fact, a Bt690 voucher to some households – not all. So the penetration of digital TV viewers remains below our expectation.”

Meanwhile, national marketing campaigns to promote and raise public awareness about digital TV have been delayed for more than two years.

Experiencing the slow response from the NBTC, some digital TV broadcasters called on the government to provide a relief measure by extending the remaining instalment for the upfront licence fee another three years.

“We want to see a relief measure similar to what the government has done for the small and medium-sized enterprises by offering debt restructuring. Both SMEs and digital TV operators are victims of the sluggish economy,” Kematat said.

He said to help boost the penetration of digital TV, the NBTC should allocate its remaining budget for extra digital TV coupons and inject it via a collaboration with the Federation of Thai Industries (Electrical, Electronics, Telecommunications and Allied Industry Club) to promote the use of digital TV receivers and boost the related industry.

Kematat, who is also president of the PPTV digital channel, said the media and broadcasting business was a key industry for the Kingdom, as its market value was Bt50 billion to Bt70 billion, based mainly on advertising revenue. That figure excluded the total value of TV production houses and related business.

Meanwhile, Thai telecom consultants Mobile LTE have applied for a licence from the National Broadcasting and Telecommun-ications Commission (NBTC) to provide a satellite signal uplink/downlink service, an NBTC source said.

Songporn said that Mobile LTE had approached the ministry for the permit to launch the uplink-downlink service but the ministry advised the company to apply for the licence at the NBTC first.

She said any company applying for an NBTC licence to operate a satellite service would now be regarded by the ministry as operating it under the ministry’s Build-Transfer Operate (BOT) contract. If a firm applied for a NBTC satellite licence after 2021, it would be regarded as operating it under an NBTC licence.

The MDES was established on Friday to replace the Information and Communications Technology Ministry. It can continue the ICT ministry’s tasks but cannot do tasks related to digital economy policies until pending the digital economy law takes effect. Cabinet has acknowledged the ministry proposal to reform the satellite-service industry by bringing the Thaicom 7 and 8 satellites into the ministry’s concession regime, which will expire in 2021.

Both satellites operate under the single NBTC licence. Other Thaicom satellites – 5 and 6 – operate under the ministry’s concession regime.

It was speculated that former ICT minister Uttama Savanayana will be re-appointed to Cabinet but it has yet to be confirmed if he will be made MDES minister or head another ministry. Uttama resigned last week to pave way for the MDES’ formation.

Mobile LTE was founded in October 2014 with registered capital of Bt100 million. Among its major shareholders is Chatchai Yenbamrung. Chatchai is former executive of Shinawatra Directory Co, now known as Teleinfo Media Plc. Mobile LTE is one of the companies aiming to be a possible strategic partner with TOT to provide the 2.1GHz wireless broadband service.

Vallop Vitanakorn, an adviser to the Thai Garment Manufacturers Association, said after expanding investments to Cambodia and Vietnam over the past four years, manufacturers were expected to generate US$600 million (Bt21 billion) in overseas sales this year.

Vallop said that as a result, garment exports from Thailand were forecast to declined about 7 per cent to $2.55 billion but that was not an alarming development.

“Exports from the industry will grow strongly from neighbouring countries in particular Cambodia and Vietnam … If we include the export figure from neighbouring countries, Thai garment exports have still increased and will not be worth less than $3.15 billion this year,” he said.

The estimated $600 million in sales from overseas this year will be contributed from 33 apparel manufacturers operating in Cambodia and Vietnam. They had a combined initial investment capital of about Bt4 billion.

Vallop said more garment enterprises would expand businesses to neighbouring countries, with Myanmar a potential option if it had stable infrastructure development.

He said in the future export income from Thailand would not increase, but exports from Thai manufacturers operating overseas would.

But he said garment manufacturers would still keep investments in Thailand, in part because the country had skilled labour.

Income from investments in neighbouring countries is expected to be 40 per cent of the total garment exports next year.

The department said the programme would strongly boost the attempt to standardise and upgrade the country’s tourism businesses and tourist attractions, which in turn would lead to growing confidence in the Thai tourism industry by travellers.

Wannasiri Morakul, director-general of the Tourism Department, said it had stepped forward to upgrade the standards of operation of tourist attractions and tourism-related products and services to gain greater confidence among visitors to Thailand, as tourism is considered a major tool to support sustainable development of the economy.

Presiding over the annual Thailand Tourism Standard Awards ceremony, Kobkarn awarded trophies and certificates to 500 tourism enterprises that passed evaluation criteria set by the Tourism Department. The honourees were from different sectors, including standard accommodations such as homestays, and standard tourism services such as hired boats, boat tours and elephant camps.

Wannasiri said her department had so far issued 52 standards covering all aspects of tourism, such as accommodation, services, tourist attractions, tourist activities, and tour agency and tourist guides.

“We want to make our standards better known among tourism businesses and we must encourage more tourism-related businesses to register for evaluation,” she said. “With the awards, entrepreneurs are authorised to use the standard [qualification] emblems in their marketing campaigns to demonstrate their service excellence.”

To continue to upgrade tourism standards in Thailand, tourism businesses and service providers must form a collaborative network to share knowledge among themselves so that they will meet the requirements of “Thailand 4.0” development strategy, the department says. This will be in line with the government’s aim to boost tourism revenues to Bt2.5 trillion next year.

“We would like to urge tourism-related businesses to be aware of the importance of tourism standards in order to cater to the expected larger tourism market in the future,” Wannasiri said. “Therefore, they must operate on a transparent, systematic, and assessment-friendly fashion.

“When every tourism entity in Thailand moves to operate on the same set of standards, the path to glory for prosperous Thailand will be within reach.”

The forum will be held on Wednesday and Thursday from 8.30am-5pm at The Ballroom, Dusit Thani Bangkok Hotel.

Supachai Panichpakdi, former secretary-general of UNCTAD and former director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and Teerakiat Jareonsettarin, deputy minister of education, will preside at the opening ceremony.

Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, executive director of ITD, said: “As an organisation established by an agreement between the Thai government and UNCTAD to promote trade, development and other activities in line with the agreement, ITD in July took part in the 14th session of UNCTAD in Nairobi, Kenya, which was under the theme ‘From Decision to Actions: Moving towards an Inclusive and Equitable Global Economic Environment for Trade and Development’.

“Building on that theme, we will hold the Trade and Development Regional Forum 2016 with a related theme of ‘Sustainable Trade and Investment in Asia: Time for Actions’ to be a platform for knowledge sharing and opinion exchange [among] countries in Asia, and at the same time emphasising this critical time for Thailand and other Asian countries to take concrete actions regarding such issues as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, assistance for developing countries faced with impacts from debt burdens caused by development efforts, and implementation of the e-Trade for All Initiative. “We hope this forum will effectively stimulate many countries to formulate relevant policies and bring about sustainable development and inclusive growth.”

Laotians are influenced by Thai television shows, especially soap operas, from an early age in their home country, while their identity and lifestyle is to a large extent urbanised in much the same way as Thais have been affected by modernity.

Moreover, most migrants from Laos enjoy strong social bonds, especially with relatives and neighbours who have lived and worked in Thailand, who have persuaded them to come here to improve their income and quality of life.

Vichien Chai-onta, 31, a Laotian from Kam Muan village who now works in Pathum Thani province, said a friend persuaded him to come to Thailand.

“Working in Thailand is not so difficult for Laotians. We face no limitations as both countries share a similar language, food, culture and lifestyle,” said Vichien, who has been working in Thailand for more than four years and lives here with his wife and two daughters. Vichien is employed in Pathum Thani as a carer of a fishing pond.

“I have not had to adjust too much when working and living here in Thailand,” he said. “I can use my smartphone to connect with friends and relatives in Laos, as well as those who work in other Thai provinces, such as Nonthaburi.”

Vichien said that while living in Laos, he had learned Thai from local TV stations broadcasting Thai channels, as well as from Thai newspapers sold at the border market.

“In Thailand, I work and stay with a Thai employer in Pathum Thani, who has provided me and my family with both accommodation and food, as well as a school education for my kids,” he said. Vichien earns Bt6,000 a month which, while not high, is much more than the Bt4,000 he used to bring in when working in Laos.

However, he spends only about Bt1,000 a month of his Thai income on local living and necessities, with the remaining Bt5,000 repatriated for home improvement in Laos.

Sroi, 29, who also hails from Kam Muan village, said she had been working in Thailand for almost 10 years, with her first job budding rubber trees in Phang-Nga’s Takua Thung district.

“I came to work in Thailand as I wanted to earn money to build a new house for my family [in Laos]. I followed my older sister and her husband, who already worked as rubber budders in the South,” she said.

After seven years, Sroi moved to Pathum Thani, where her employer runs a vegetable-farming business.

“I enjoy a better life in Thailand. Here, I can buy the types of food I want to eat, whereas in Laos I was content simply to have something to eat,” she said.

“I’ve not had any problems working and staying in Thailand. Laotians can absorb Thai culture and the way of life through watching Thai television. In Laos, we are able to receive a strong signal for Thai TV channels.

“Kam Muan is only 6 kilometres from Nakhon Phanom province and most people in the village watch Thai soap operas and news. Language is not an obstacle for migrant workers from Laos when they come to Thailand. They are able to assimilate themselves into Thai society [without difficulty],” she added.

Sroi also said Thais and Laotians shared many of the same personality traits, including gentleness and sociability.

In her view, when it comes to the way of life, culture, language and communication, these are no barriers between Lao workers and Thai employers.

The bureau’s 2017 strategic plan was unveiled to promote the conventions sector, which is in line with the government’s “Thailand 4.0” strategies by collaborating with professional associations to bid for major events with a focus on five key industries.

Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of the TCEB, disclosed that as a key growth driver for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry, the conventions sector generated significant economic benefits for society.

“Since October 2015, Thailand has won bids for 16 conventions with more than 12,000 international delegates, and is targeting revenue generation of more than Bt1 billion,” Nopparat said.

“As a government agency tasked to promote the Thai MICE industry, TCEB has provided support for 90 conventions and association meetings with more than 44,000 international delegates, contributing Bt3.8 billion in revenue to the Thai economy.”

Vichaya Soonthornsaratoon, director of the conventions department at the bureau, said Convention Day would be held under a new format this year to showcase the achievements of 16 Thai associations and organisations who bid against other countries for international conferences and received TCEB support.

The winning bids during the 2016 fiscal year will receive honorary pins at Convention Day – The Essence of Fame, which will be held on Monday at the Thewarat Sapharom Hall, Phayathai Palace.

Deputy Prime Minister General Thanasak Patimaprakorn will preside over the event and present the pins to winning associations and organisations that will host medical, veterinary, animal science, education, music, logistics, and tourism conferences.

Convention Day will also highlight a Hall of Fame, exhibiting detailed information of the 16 winning bids and a special keynote “Inspiration for Thai Future” by Montian Boontan, vice president of the Blind Association Thailand, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Committee.

Regarding the bureau’s strategic plan to promote the conventions sector, Vichaya said: “The TCEB’s conventions promotion development plan for the 2017 fiscal year is in line with the government’s ‘Thailand 4.0’ economic model, which aims to develop Thailand into a value-based economy and high-income country driven by creativity and innovations.”

“As one of the key focuses in the Thailand 4.0 scheme, the conventions sector will serve as a professional exchange platform that delegates can leverage to develop innovative products and services further, as well as bridge connections that will help reshape future collaboration in Thai society.”

In 2017, the bureau will also emphasise more major conferences and conventions especially in the five focus industries – health and wellness; energy; food and agribusiness; infrastructure and logistics; and automotive and electronics.

However, the UTCC does not see this as a worrisome situation, as the survey found that debtors have been moving away from underground lenders towards regulated financial institutions.

“Thai debtors have shifted to systematic loans from banks and other regulated financial institutions, showing that people will not suffer greatly from unfair creditors. People have also borrowed only when it is necessary for durable goods and for getting a better quality of life, including houses and cars,” said Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the UTCC’s Economic and Business Forecasting Centre.

The survey of 1,221 respondents conducted from September 1-12 found that 85.7 per cent were in debt. It also indicated that household debt has been rising steadily for the past 10 years, since a similar survey in 2006.

Last year, debt per household was found to be Bt248,004.

This year, monthly debt-servicing costs average Bt14,889, according to the survey. Of this, 62.3 per cent goes to financial institutions and 37.7 per cent to underground loan providers. Last year, 48.7 per cent went to financial institutions, and 51.3 per cent to loan sharks.

According to the Bank of Thailand, total household debt currently accounts for 82 per cent of gross domestic product. Thailand has one of the world’s highest household debt levels, Thanavath said.

However, rising household debt is not perceived as a major worry as people have tended to borrow to improve their standard of living, while enterprises have borrowed for investment and expansion.

Other loans include borrowing for investment, buying vehicles or homes, credit-card payments, and maintenance of vehicles and residences.

Some groups of debtors should be concerned, the survey said, including farmers and low-income people, as they have to borrow more just to cover rising daily expenses. Many people are having cash-flow problems mainly because their incomes are not keeping pace with the rising cost of living, he said.

Because of this, the government, employers and employees need to recognise that the minimum wage in some provinces may need to increase to cover higher costs, and in some areas it may need to be frozen. Some employers have also felt the impact of the slow economic recovery and cannot take on higher costs.

Thanavath suggested that the appropriate minimum wage would be Bt15-Bt20 higher than the current Bt300 per day, depending on the supply of labour in essential employment areas. Increasing the daily minimum wage to Bt360 is not suitable in this period.

He said the household-debt situation could improve next year if the economy grows by more than 4 per cent.

The MDE is being set up as part of the government’s “Thailand 4.0” policy. The Royal Gazette announced yesterday that the MDE would become effective today.

All agencies under the ICT Ministry except one will be transferred to the MDE. They are the National Statistical Office, the Meteorological Department, TOT, CAT Telecom, Thailand Post Co, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency, the Software Industry Promotion Agency and the Electronic Government Agency. The exception is the National Disaster Warning Centre, which will move to the Interior Ministry.

There will also be a new Digital Economy Committee administrative office, but it still has to wait for the upcoming Digital Economy Act before it can become fully functional. Songporn Komolsuradej, the MDE’s permanent secretary, said the act was expected to be passed by the National Legislative Assembly and become effective around December.

The ICT Ministry was set up on October 3, 2002. There have been 12 ICT ministers and eight permanent secretaries.

Songporn said the ICT Ministry’s plan to establish free broadband Internet access in 30,000 villages nationwide, which was expected to get under way this month, would likely be delayed to next month. The first phase of the plan, to be implemented by TOT, will target 20,000 villages.

Earlier Uttama Savanayana submitted his resignation as ICT minister to pave the way for the establishment of the MDE. The Cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged his resignation and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha assigned Deputy PM Prajin Juntong, who is in charge of ICT policy, to oversee the ICT Ministry on an interim basis.

It has yet to be confirmed whether Uttama will be reappointed to the head the new ministry or ifPrayut will nominate a new minister.

One main task of the new ministry is to reform the satellite industry, after the Cabinet’s recent acknowledgement of the ICT Ministry’s reform proposal.

When the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) took power two years ago, GDP stood at 0.8 per cent, Somkid said. The present government took two years to steer the country to 2.8 per cent growth last year due to cross-sector cooperation.

Despite the economic revival, Somkid said some people still believe there has not been a recovery because it had not yet spread to the grassroots level, especially farmers, who still have low incomes.

Moreover, the global economy is still sluggish, which has affected Thailand’s export sector, while the domestic private sector is not investing enough. Domestic investment is waiting for a full economic recovery before committing.

Somkid added that he had already consulted with Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Finance Ministry on how to boost farmers’ income and reduce their household debt.

He said Thailand was undertaking comprehensive economic reforms in order to ensure sustainable growth. The country needs to get past the domestic headwinds that have dented its growth for a decade, ranging from the poor education system, lack of innovation, economic and social disparity, and poor basic infrastructure, he said.

He admitted that it would not be easy to complete the reforms overnight.

He said his motto was “build up Thailand’s new economy”, which would first involve the government strengthening the grassroots economy to boost people’s purchasing power.

The government has also approved a number of mega-transport infrastructure projects to create connectivity within the country and between Thailand and the region, which would channel the distribution of equal economic benefits and make the country the Asean connectivity hub, he said.

Somkid said he believed the Cabinet would approve the remaining mass transit projects this year, allowing construction to begin next year.

The government has also introduced measures to woo foreign investment to 10 target industries under its new “S-curve growth” policy, which refers to industrial clusters, and to promote measures to support the growth of startup businesses.

In addition, the government has promoted the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project as a new economic pillar over the next 30 years. The project, aimed at developing Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard into a leading economic zone in ASEAN, will be implemented in the three eastern provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao. The draft law governing the project’s development is waiting for Cabinet approval.

Somkid said that it would be easier to inject government spending as a quick way to boost GDP, but the government did not choose that option because it would not change the country’s economic fundamentals.