BANGKOK, 22 June 2019(NNT) – As the chair of the ASEAN Community this year, Thailand is raising awareness, among ASEAN member countries, of industrial transformation which is expected to affect 28 million workers in the ASEAN region over the next 10 years.
The Ministry of Commerce has joined the ASEAN Business Advisory Council in Thailand in arranging a Symposium on ’ ASEAN Human Empowerment and Development ’ (AHEAD) to exchange opinions, between government agencies and representatives of the private sector, on the effects of technological disruption in the industrial sector, and to create guidelines for labour skills development to support the future of the industrial sector.
The Ministry of Commerce Permanent Secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit said at the symposium, that changes in the industrial sector will involve more technological implementation, such as automated systems and artificial intelligence (AI), while the Internet of Things (IoT) is set to play a greater role in industry, affecting 375 million workers around the globe. Some 28 million workers in the ASEAN Community are expected to be affected by these changes over the next 10 years.
He said Thailand, as the ASEAN Chair this year, would like to raise awareness among ASEAN members of these rapid changes and seek cooperation to create skills development guidelines. The conclusion reached at the symposium will be proposed at the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting for further endorsement.
Thailand is also set to use the opportunity of the ASEAN Summit to push an economic cooperation framework covering 20 areas, some of which have already been realized, such as trade and customs procedures facilitation, government procurement and hiring and plant protection measures. The remaining areas are still pending discussions with ASEAN member states.
