It will also develop the ICT Thailand brand and ICT Skill Professional Standard projects to support the ICT industry in both domestic and international markets.

Methini Thepmani, director of the ICT Industry Promotion Bureau at the ICT Ministry, said the bureau is talking to giant software companies to purchase Thai software so that government agencies and the education sector can easily use it at an affordable price. The bureau started negotiations last year.

To improve the competitiveness of the country, the ministry will also implement the ICT Thailand brand project to promote and support local ICT products which meet international standards under the ICT Product Campaign to export to international markets.

She said the project will start next year. As a first step, the ministry will work with ICT organisations and associations such as the Software Industry Promotion Agency, the Association of Thai Computer Industry, and the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, to select the top 20 local ICT products which can be sold in international markets.

The ministry believes RFID technology and mobile application products will soon enter the world market. Methini said the ministry will implement the ICT Skill Professional Standard project covering 17 skilled professionals such as ICT project manager, programmer, Web administrator and Web designer. As a result, ICT professionals will have the potential to compete internationally. Those who meet the standards will be given certificates to help them find jobs.

"The ICT Skill Professional Standard will ensure international standards for professionals in the country. This will also help the education sector provide training to specialists suitable for the business and industry market," said Methini.

The ministry also plans to expand its One Temple, One Electronic-leaning Centre project from nine to 50 centres next year.

The project provides 10 to 20 desktop computers and computer training courses to temples nationwide so that people in every community can become computer-aware.

"It will provide an opportunity to teenagers and people living in remote communities to access information technology and this will hopefully reduce the so-called digital divide and help them develop skills," said Methini, adding that computer training courses include a basic knowledge of computers, multimedia, publishing and animation.

Jirapan Boonnoon

The Nation