MI AND DEPA JOIN HANDS IN THE PROMOTION OF DIGITAL ECONOMY IN THE MEKONG SUBREGION
December 29, 2021
December 29, 2021, Bangkok – Mekong Institute (MI) and The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) formalize today a new landmark cooperation agreement to jointly promote digital economy for a better connected, prosperous and resilient Mekong subregion.
The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations is led by MI’s Executive Director Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn and DEPA President & CEO Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin at DEPA Headquarter. The MoU formalizes the collaboration between MI and DEPA in the conduct of trainings and workshops, undertaking of research on digitalization, knowledge exchange and sharing of knowledge resources and information networks, and exchange of personnel.
Mr. Suriyan stated, “This is an excellent opportunity for MI because we are keen to scale up the successes of DEPA on digitalization and technologies for implementation and adoption in our member countries in the region particularly Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam,”
Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin stated that the objective of the project is to tie digitalization with the use of potential applications of digital technology to drive the development to help increase the productivity of the region’s sectors, improve incomes and livelihood, ultimately contribute to advances the SDGs despite pandemic in the region.
“The excellent fit of MI and DEPA’s thematic focus and what this collaboration could bring for the Mekong region. “Working with MI marks another journey for us of joining hands in three specific areas – building up capacities around the Mekong region, learning from each other on digitalization and innovation, and extending intangible knowledge, and therefore bring in more value creation into the region.” stated DEPA's President/CEO
Additionally, this cooperation will bolster cross-border trade, as the Ministry of Commerce reported overall cross-border trade, including transit trade, totaled 778.4 billion baht between January and September, and increase of 38.06% over this year’s first 9 months. Of the total, exports made up 1,275.5 billion baht. The Ministry of Commerce anticipates that Thailand’s border and cross-border trade performance will yield a gross value of 789.2 billion baht in 2021, 3% increase.
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More information about The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA)
The Digital Economy Promotion Agency or DEPA, a public organization under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand, was established to promote and support the development of digital industry and innovation and the digital technology adoption in order to achieve economic, social, and cultural and security benefits for national competitiveness.