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Thailand has entered the era of Thailand 4.0, embracing the digital age. Digital Local Government is at the forefront of this transformative journey as the country advances towards a more technologically integrated future. This commitment extends across the spectrum, from small entities to large organisations, underlining the collaborative approach characterising this digital revolution.
Dr Nopparat Metaweekulchai, Chairman of the Digital Government Development Agency, is committing to driving digital local development. The strides in digital local development enable collaboration across entities of all sizes, from small to large. Big Saw and Mr Siriphan Srikongphli, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Local Administration, exemplify this shared vision, pioneering an approach to digital service delivery for local communities, emphasising enhanced efficiency and convenience.
This year, more than 60 initiatives from 59 local administrative organisations across the nation recognised their implementations of digital technology, which benefit the public and streamline service accessibility. This is the government’s dedication to policies designed to boost administrative efficiency, specifically at the provincial and local government levels.
In this transformation, the government strategically harnesses modern technology to enhance service efficiency, promote transparency, combat corruption, reduce costs, and optimise the public sector’s performance. A pivotal aspect of this transformation is the development of a Super App that integrates government services. This app, exemplified by the “government” app, ensures easy and on-demand access to information about citizens’ entitlements, such as elderly, disability, and newborn allowances.
All these efforts are underpinned by the principle that technology can enhance citizens’ lives and ensure the seamless delivery of government services. Dr Nopparat Metaweekulchai and his team at the Digital Government Development Agency stand united with all government entities, embodying a commitment to advancing digital governance. This dedication aligns with the 2023-2027 digital government development plan, focused on delivering flexible, rapid, and extended administrative services to local government agencies.
Their strategic direction gains robust support from the Electronic Government Operations Act 2022, which strongly emphasises enhancing citizen convenience through expanded online channels for government interactions. These efforts are poised to propel the government sector toward achieving digital governance in line with government policies and mandates.
At the helm of this transformation, Dr Supoj Thienawut, Director of the Digital Government Development Agency, takes the lead in recognising high-performing local administrative organisations nationwide. Their selection criteria span four core categories: Problems, Policies and Plans, Work Processes, and Concrete Development Results.
Notably, Yala Municipality, located in Yala Province, has employed Big Data innovatively to elevate service quality. Simultaneously, a subdistrict municipality in Chiang Rai Province garners recognition for pioneering work in integrated waste management through a digital platform, fostering sustainability and reflecting their readiness to serve as exemplary models for local government organisations nationwide.
They are at the forefront of enhancing operational efficiency by harnessing digital technology’s potential to improve public services, ushering in an era of modern, convenient, and efficient service delivery. Together, these efforts drive the realisation of a genuine “digital locality,” aligned with the government’s vision.
Dr Nopparat Metaweekulchai and his team at the Digital Government Development Agency spearhead advancements in digital local development, reinforcing the government’s unswerving commitment to transitioning into a digital government. The government’s vision is lucid: to empower an efficient, digitally connected nation fully equipped to meet its diverse citizens’ needs.