National —
On December 20th, 2024, former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra delivered a special lecture on “The Future of Isan and Thailand’s Opportunities.”
He emphasized that the development of Isan (northeast) must begin with its people, as they are resilient and resourceful. He stressed that it was time for Isan to transform, utilizing its vast land, population, and rich cultural heritage.
Thaksin highlighted the need to improve skills, particularly in soft power and OTOP products, and criticized the current education system for focusing too much on degrees instead of practical skills, like AI and machine learning.
He proposed that universities play a key role in skill development, particularly in Isan, where agriculture needs to adopt technology to deal with challenges like irregular rainfall. Thaksin also called for the use of technology to eliminate monopolies that limit farmers’ opportunities, such as bypassing middlemen in rice exports with e-commerce platforms.
He also discussed the importance of the high-speed rail connecting Issan to China and Laos, which could boost agriculture and exports.
Thaksin addressed the growing drug issue in Isan, suggesting that technology, like apps for reporting drug activity, could help curb the problem and improve the region’s overall quality of life.
He also talked about modernizing OTOP products, using international design standards while maintaining Thai cultural elements, and noted that Isan’s OTOP could become a major global player.
OTOP (One Tambon One Product) is a Thai government initiative that promotes unique, high-quality local products from each district to boost rural economies and preserve cultural heritage, noted TPN.
Thaksin concluded by discussing Thailand’s heavy debt, proposing a new economic approach involving short-term government bonds that would put money directly into the hands of the public to boost local economies.
He stressed that Isan needs to retain more economic value locally and create more job opportunities to prevent migration to Bangkok. He also suggested developing local talents for the international market, including in fields like modeling, by showcasing natural beauty and promoting regional crafts globally.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
