Thailand is hosting the largest digital-tech showcase in Southeast Asia to help boost tech links with Singapore and ASEAN companies

Singapore, 14 September 2017 – Following the recent signing of the two MOUs with International Enterprise (IE) Singapore to boost the bilateral tech links, Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) has announced the hosting of the largest digital and technological exhibition in South East Asia, The Digital Thailand Big Bang (DTBB) 2017, to help Singapore, ASEAN and global companies tap on the rising business opportunities in Thailand.

The Thai government has demonstrated its commitment to transform Thailand into a Digital Economy, with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha mandating his government to push Thailand towards a digitalized nation in which technological innovations help drive economic growth and social development. The new 5-billion-baht (S$147 million) Digital Economy Fund in September is one of those initiatives to promote tech start-ups in areas such as research and development. 

In addition to funding, Thailand has eased regulations for both venture capital firms and start-ups to offer a favourable ecosystem, making it Southeast Asia’s third largest start-up ecosystem after Singapore and Indonesia.

For Singapore tech companies, Thailand is also increasingly seen as an attractive potential market in sectors such as e-commerce, enterprise services, FinTech, Agritech and Healthtech. Thailand is currently the third largest ecommerce market in the region, valued at $900 million and is expected to increase its ecommerce business 12-fold to a value of $11.1 billion by 2025.

DTBB 2017 is strategically positioned for innovative enterprises in Singapore to gain access to the Thai conglomerates that are looking for solution partners to enhance their capabilities and create higher value-add.

Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of DE commented, “This is fundamentally important for the community, public healthcare services and digital workforce development and should be implemented in all levels of society. Additionally, the necessary digital infrastructure should be established and developed to support a digital park, digital community and a smart city to completely transform ASEAN.”

The summit will function as a global platform for seminars and workshops. A line-up of international speakers including senior government officials from the Thai government such as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister ACM Prajin Janthong, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, will give speeches about the digital economy journey of the country.

Also, attending companies will be able to hear from Jeff Hoffman, Co-Founder and ex-CEO of Priceline, Raffaello D’Andrea, ETH Zurich’s Professor of Dynamic Systems and Control and Anthony Bargar, CSCG’s Managing Director.

The Singapore pavilion will be one of eight country pavilions participating in this summit in Bangkok alongside Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, United Kingdom, France, China and Australia pavilions. Singapore-based companies will be highlighting their digital advances in businesses and strengthening the digital linkage between Singapore and Thailand.

DTBB 2017 will take place from 21st – 24th September 2017 at IMPACT Challenger Hall 1-2 in Bangkok, Thailand. The summit will bring together leaders that are on the forefront of the digital-tech industry, and address technologies and strategies for smart cities and digital ecosystems driving the digital strategies and transformation roadmaps of government and organizations in ASEAN.

Covering the entire digital technology stack, DTBB 2017 will deliver the latest products, solutions, knowledge, and innovations directly to businesses keen to widen their expertise and business offering across the complete digital spectrum.

For more information on DTBB 2017 and its programme, please visit www.digitalthailandbigbang.com.

Established in 2015, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), formerly known as the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), is a cabinet ministry in Thailand. The ministry’s vision to encourage all sectors to use digital technology to drive the country’s economy and society within 5 years.

One organization under the ministry includes the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). The Digital Economy Promotion Agency was established to promote and support the development of digital industry, innovation and digital technology adoption to achieve the economic, social, cultural and security benefits in accordance with the Digital Development for Economy and Society Act B.E. 2560 (A.D. 2017) promulgated on 23 January 2017, the 2nd year of the reign of King Rama X.

Digital Thailand Big Bang 2017 is the largest digital summit in South East Asia, hosted by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) under authority of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand. The summit, hosted under theme of “Digital Transformation Thailand” and with an event space of 40,000 square meters, features exhibitions, meetings and seminars and competition. The exhibition area is divided to four zones including Digital Startups, Digital Services, Digital Entrepreneurs, and Global Network.