Thailand has identified 10 hi-tech industries for development in order to boost competitiveness; these range from next generation automotive production to robotics. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said that the private and state sectors would set up taskforces to work on plugging skills shortages. The chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, Supant Mongkolsuthree, said after the meeting that the private sector also proposed to the government that it support its plan for the establishment of a private sector fund to be used for developing innovations. The private sector also handed the white papers for the plan to the premier; it had earlier given copies of the document to all political parties. Somkid added that the contraction would likely worsen if the trade war kept going.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 22, 2019 18:04 UTC