Page 119 - ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2020

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Measures Rationale Timeframe Related Domestic Agendas
Strategy 1: Enhance the capability of domestic ICT infrastructure to accommodate future growth in domestic demand, and as a preparation for becoming the center of internet exchange for CLMV group of countries (Cont’d)
1.5) Improve the legal and regulatory BSA – The Software Alliance’s Global Cloud Scorecard 2016, an index of national readiness on cloud 2017 - 2018  Digital Thailand Plan,
environment and provide incentives to computing or services investment issued biennially, highlights the weakness of related laws and regulations Strategy 1
attract investment in cloud computing on data privacy, security and intellectual property. A review of these matters would improve the business
businesses environment for attracting investment in cloud related businesses and services. Presently, among the ASEAN
nations, Thailand is ranked behind Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in this respect.

The Digital Thailand plan envisions Thailand as the center of an ASEAN internet exchange. However,
competitiveness analysis suggests that Thailand is lacking behind several countries in ASEAN in terms of
infrastructure readiness. This vision should therefore be focused on only geographically near countries over
which Thailand has an advantage, namely the CLMV group of countries. In addition, readiness of cloud-
based services, such as cloud computing or storage, would attract internet traffic throughout Thailand, which
would ensure the status of the internet exchange centers. It will also be a positive factor that drives the
growth of the digital economy in targeted countries.

Recommendation
Thailand should revise its laws and regulations and enact appropriate investment incentives to attract
investment in cloud-based businesses and services in Thailand.

Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Digital Economy and Society