Somkid: Shortage of skilled labour
Education is a concern among foreign investors sceptical of Thailand achieving its goal of developing the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the digital economy to attract new investment.
Big companies have created their own training courses to fill labour needs as Thailand undertakes the long-term process of overhauling its education system, said Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
Speaking yesterday at a gathering of chief executives of multinational companies invested in Thailand, Mr Somkid said those firms understand Thailand faces a shortage of skilled workers needed for new-generation industries.
"They have set up training courses to improve the skills of Thais as well as people from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam," he said.
"Major companies in the automotive and food processing sectors that joined a recent meeting with me, particularly Toyota, agreed to the plan to help develop our workforce via their training courses."
Mr Somkid said the training courses need not be seen as a short-term Band-Aid for the companies, as it serves their long-term goals for Asean.
The government plans to urgently create new universities in the EEC areas to build up a skilled workforce, both for higher education and vocational education to match industry demand.
The EEC spans the provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao and will be designated as a high-tech industry cluster with an eye towards becoming Asean's leading economic zone for industry, infrastructure and urban development.
"We will bring in leading universities to areas adjacent to the EEC, both Thai and foreign institutes, to help a new generation learn higher-level skills," Mr Somkid said.
He said the EEC is considered the heart of the government's economic policy and is set to be the new engine driving the Thailand 4.0 economy.
The project is expected to generate new investment value of up to 1.5 trillion baht within five years, said the Industry Ministry.
Mr Somkid said most multinational companies he met with yesterday agreed Thailand is perfectly positioned for investment now because of its location -- linked to other fast-growing economies in Asean -- that can in turn connect to other countries.
"They all agreed we are in a very smooth transition period with our new King and peaceful politics," he said. "It is a good time to invest in Thailand."
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