# National Soft Power Strategy Committee

The National Soft Power Strategy Committee (Thai: คณะกรรมการยุทธศาสตร์ซอฟต์พาวเวอร์แห่งชาติ) is a committee established in accordance with Order of the Office of the Prime Minister No. 230/2023 dated September 13, 2023, as a result of the order of Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister at the first cabinet meeting, to drive soft power within the country according to the 1 family 1 soft power policy, of the Pheu Thai Party. With Srettha as chairman of the board, Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Vice Chairman of the Board, and Suraphong Suebwonglee as Director and Secretary.

## Background

The first meeting or No. 1/2023 was held on October 3, 2023, after the Cabinet meeting. In addition, a National Soft Power Development Committee has been appointed, to drive soft power policies in various areas and present them to the plenary committee with Paetongtarn as chairwoman of the board.

## Objective

The National Soft Power Strategy Committee was established with the objective of setting goals for driving government policy (1 family 1 soft power) to integrate the operations of government agencies and the private sector to be efficient, and it is consistent with the development of Thailand's potential to international countries.

## Duties and Responsibilities

The National Soft Power Strategy Committee has the following duties and responsibilities:
* Set the country's soft power strategy, prepare national policies and plans on the country's soft power strategy, to submit for approval from the Cabinet.
* Make recommendations to the Cabinet to set policies and directions for finance, investment, including various measures and benefits related to or for the benefit of promoting soft power in the country.
* Make recommendations to the Cabinet to improve or amend laws and regulations related to the country's soft power strategy.
* Make recommendations to the Cabinet regarding the implementation of national policies and plans regarding the country's soft power strategy. Including measures to strengthen cooperation and coordination between government agencies, state enterprises, the private sector both at domestic and abroad, and international organizations in promoting soft power both at domestic and abroad.
* Report to the Cabinet to know and consider making a resolution regarding the agency's actions to be in line with the national policy and plan regarding the country's soft power strategy.

## Project Implementation

On January 9, 2024, there was a meeting of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee No. 1/2024 where the meeting approved 5 important matters:
* Agree on the proposals for the soft power industry, targeting all 11 branches, namely festivals, tourism, food, art, design, sports, music, books, movies, dramas and series, fashion and gaming.
* Approve the budget framework for supporting entrepreneurs to participate in 3 foreign film festivals, in the amount of 3 billion baht.
* Agree on the principles for organizing the Songkran Festival in Thailand under the name "Maha Songkran World Water Festival".
* Agreed the Office of the National Reform Steering National Strategy and Creating Unity and Reconciliation, is the main agency in driving the soft power development strategy, with a duty to operate, integrate and drive relevant agencies to study, analyze and prepare soft power development plans power budget allocation carrying out various projects/activities with efficiency and effectiveness Reduce duplication, follow up and expedite the process of reviewing, amending, amending, canceling, and creating laws and regulations related to the development of 11 soft power industries of government agencies, in order to comply with the resolutions of the committee and various subcommittees related and coordinate and create cooperation between the government agencies, the private sector, and civil society in developing soft power, coordinating and integrating the dissemination of information on 11 soft power industries, as well as disseminating progress and results of operations regarding with the development of the country's soft power.
* Agreed to appoint additional directors as follows:
** In the National Soft Power Strategy Committee appointed to
*** Director of the Budget Bureau and the Secretary-General of the Council of State is a member.
*** Director of the Office National Reform Steering National Strategy and Creating Unity and Reconciliation is a member and assistant secretary.
** In the National Soft Power Development Committee appointed to
*** Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and Director of the Digital Government Development Agency are member.
*** Director of the Office National Reform Steering, National Strategy, and Creating Unity and Reconciliation is a member and co-secretary.

## National Softpower Development Committee

Later, on October 3, 2023, after the National Soft Power Strategy Committee meeting No. 1/2023 ended, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin signed an order appointing another committee it's called National Soft Power Development Committee, to act as a push and steering soft power policy in various areas to make progress and present it to the National Soft Power Strategy Committee, to consider.
This committee has Paetongtarn Shinawatra as chairman, Dr. Suraphong Suebwonglee as vice- chairman, Pansak Winyarat as advisor and director along with another 46 members, totaling 49 people, such as the Governor of Bangkok, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of High Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, the Director-General of the Community Development Department, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Governor of Sports Authority of Thailand, and Director of the Village Fund Office, etc. The first meeting will be held on October 25, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. (Thai Standard Time) at the Witaed Samosorn meeting room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will meet regularly, once per month.

### Project Implementation

On November 30, 2023, the National Softpower Development Committee Meeting No. 2/2023 resolved to approve in principle that the agencies responsible for 11 areas of Thai Soft power projects, activities, and industries proposed using a budget of 5,164 million baht as follows:
| areas | budget |
| Festival | 1009 million baht |
| Tourism | 711 million baht |
| Food | 1000 million baht |
| Art | 380 million baht |
| Design | 310 million baht |
| Muay Thai | 500 million baht |
| Music | 144 million baht |
| Book | 69 million baht |
| Film Drama and Series | 545 Million baht |
| Fashion | 268 million baht |
| Game and Esports | 374 million baht |
The budget will be reviewed with the Bureau of the Budget by December 14, 2023, before being sent to the National Soft Power Strategy Committee for consideration again on January 9, 2024.
Later on January 4, 2024, the National Softpower Development Committee Meeting No. 1/2024 was held with a total of 3 matters being considered: Amending the film censorship process, establishing One Stop Service, and proposing the draft THACCA Act or Thailand Creative Content Agency, to be considered by House of Representatives and Senate during August–September 2024, including the establishment of the Thai Film Council the same is true of the Korean Film Council of South Korea.

### Famous people in the subcommittee

In addition, two additional sub-committee members were appointed: Chanon Santinatornkul, a famous movie and television drama actor, in the field of film, and Phonphan Techarungchaikul, the Chief Executive Officer of RS Music Company Limited in the field of music, by has order of the National Soft Power Development Board No. 1/2024 appointing Chanon officially on January 9, 2024 after a meeting of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee. Also on the same day There was also an order the National Soft Power Development Board No. 2/2024 appointing three additional sub-committee members: Chookiat Sakveerakul, a famous film and series director, Worarit Nilklom, former host and director of the Y series and Nonglak Ngamroj, CEO of RS Multimedia and Entertainment Company Limited (Channel 8) in dramas and series.