Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn met with the private sector to discuss collaborative efforts to close corruption loopholes and elevate transparency to OECD standards.
According to Thai News Agency, the government is accelerating the use of digital technology to reduce discretionary power and prevent corruption, aiming for legal reforms to enhance transparency.
Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilapraphan chaired the meeting with the Zero Corruption Working Group, including the Joint Committee of the Three Private Sector Institutions (JCCR), the Anti-Corruption Organization (Thailand), and other entities to discuss approaches to addressing corruption. This initiative follows a survey indicating that over 89% of the private sector views corruption as a significant business obstacle.
During the discussions, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the government's clear anti-corruption policy and its commitment to raising transparency standards in preparation for Thailand's OECD membership. He outlined government operations targeting these goals, such as adopting digital technology and AI for corruption prevention, improving laws with high discretionary power, and addressing outdated regulations. The Cabinet also approved a draft royal decree on the disclosure of personal information between government agencies to enhance oversight and reduce corruption.
The Deputy Prime Minister reviewed proposals from the Zero Corruption Working Group for the Prime Minister's consideration, focusing on sustainable anti-corruption solutions to enhance competitiveness. These include declaring anti-corruption a national agenda, using digital technology to close corruption loopholes, and elevating transparency in four government agencies.
Additionally, efforts include establishing a 'public sector integrity system' for OECD membership and addressing outdated laws through the Reinvent Thailand Plan. This plan aims to improve economic development and competitiveness in sectors such as Agri and Food Processing, Automotive, Smart Electronics, and others.
Close collaboration for systematic improvements to laws, procedures, and government services was also discussed. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) plans to propose legislative amendments to increase business efficiency and reduce obstacles in early June.