Bangkok: The Department of Business Development (DBD) has announced its readiness to thoroughly investigate all allegations of bribery within its ranks, reinforcing the principle that "wrong is wrong, right is right." The department emphasized its commitment to implementing 100% digital services to minimize opportunities for corruption by reducing direct interactions between officials, businesses, and the public.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director-General of the DBD, highlighted the department's priority in addressing public sector corruption, which significantly impacts investor confidence and the nation's competitive edge. The department has consistently adhered to good governance principles, ensuring transparency at every operational step. Following a survey under the "Thai People Do Not Tolerate Corruption" project, which ranked the DBD 21st out of 26 agencies allegedly accepting bribes, the department is prepared to conduct a serious investigation. Adhering to its principle, the department will take full disciplinary and legal action against any official found guilty.
Mr. Poonpong further elaborated that the department has now fully digitized all service processes to limit face-to-face interactions that could lead to corruption. This includes systems like DBD Biz Regist for legal entity registration, DBD e-Filing for financial statements, e-Foreign Business for foreigner business licenses, and the DBD DataWarehouse+ for legal entity information. Almost all services are now accessible digitally.
Moreover, the department is enhancing its digital systems to ensure they are modern and secure, with standardized document verification and status tracking systems in place. This initiative aims to reduce official discretion, promote equality in service delivery, and address transparency concerns.
The Director-General announced a meeting scheduled for next Tuesday with provincial commerce officials to reinforce standardized transparency practices nationwide. This meeting will also promote private sector and public participation in monitoring government operations, driving Thailand's civil service towards a digital and transparent government.
The department, however, expressed concerns about the survey's format, questioning the small sample size of 401 individuals, the selection of specific agencies, and the nature of the questions, which could lead to misunderstandings and disagreements with the survey results.
Members of the public or businesses witnessing any DBD official soliciting bribes or engaging in corruption can report through the DBD's website or hotline 1570 at any time.