From: sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Schitt Laowattana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Part[1]:Conclusion & Recommendations in Capability Development for  Electronics & Information Technology-Based Industries(EIBI)
Date: 6 Oct 92 05:51:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.MeoNbUm00WBOM1tkZO
Organization: Doctoral student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Source:    Final Report
           The Development of Thailand's Technological Capability in Industry
           Volume 5
           Capability Development for Electronics and Information
           Technology-Based Industries

           Science and Technology Development Program
           Thailand Development Research Institute(TDRI)
           Bangkok Thailand

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    Part[1]
    ^^^^^^^

    1) It is indisputably true that the electronics and information
based technology and industry will play an increasingly important role
in the social and economic development of Thailand. In order to maximize
the benefits to be obtained from them, policy makers need to be able to
understand the general trends in the electronics technology and
industry. This should help them to formulate sensible electronics
industry development plans which coordinate sensible electronics
industry development plans which coordinate well with S&T polocies and
manpower policies and which link in with the overall development plan.

    2) Studies of electronics industry developmint in many countries
show that a number of various policies have been followed, namely the
so-called leapfrogging strategy, the latecomer's strategy and the market
niches strategy. In practice, successful countries tend to implement a
carefully chosen mix of these strategies that is appropriate for the
conditions in the country and which direct the development of the
electronics industry on the right road.

    3) In the case of Thailand, there still exists no explicit
industrial development policy for the EIBI. On the other hand, an
explicit S&T policy was first incorporated in the country's fifth plan
(1982-1986) and appeared again in the sixth plan (1987-1991), although
the policy statements have been rather vague and sometimes even
contradicting.

    4) At the implementation level, the lack of coordination and
cooperation between the relevant government agencies constitute the
major problems.  However, the quality of manpower who are implementing
the existing policy is also a matter of serious concern.

    5) A critical issue for the development of the EIBI for the
development of the EIBI in Thailand concerns the severe weakness in the
quality of the supporting infrastructure.  Especially important is the
situation with regard to human resources, the most important components
of successful development in this sector.  Indeed, a prolonged and
worsening S&T manpower shoetage in the electronics area has been hardly
addressed at all.  Other supporting service such as testing,
calibration, consultancy services, and input supplies also leave a lot
to be desired.

Posted by

Schitt(DJ)  Laowattana

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Current Address in USA:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
USA
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e-mail: sl2k@andrew.cmu.edu


Permanent Address in Thailand:

Center of Operation for FIeld roBOtics Development(FIBO)
King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Thonburi
91 Suksawasd 48  Ratburana  Bangmod
Bangkok 10140, Thailand

Tel. No. 428-3374, 427-4421 and 4270151-9 Ext. 461
Fax. No. 427-8077, 427-8787

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