Depa plans to engage Khon Kaen Province and the private sector in a discussion on the development of the Khon Kaen Digital Sandbox: a space to promote digital technologies and innovation in northeastern Thailand.

Mr. Prasert Jantararuangtong, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, presided over the opening ceremony of the “Ignite Isan Digital Hub” event under the DIGINEXT by SEED THAILAND project. He also held discussions with local entrepreneurs and digital startups to explore strategies, exchange ideas and experiences, and provide valuable insights that can be used to further develop business activities. This collaboration aims to contribute to the country’s shift towards a digital economy and society. The event was also attended by Mr. Phanthep Saokosol, Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen Province, Dr. Chinawut Chinaprayoon, Executive Vice President of Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) and Dr. Warin Ratchananusorn, Director of Digital Startup Institute.

“The private sector in Khon Kaen Province is strong and united, ready to develop the province in a tangible way. This has made Khon Kaen a province with great potential and a prominent one in the Northeast region. For this reason, MDES and DEPA would like to invite the province, relevant agencies and the private sector to discuss ways to develop the Digital Khon Kaen Sandbox, a space to promote the development of digital technologies and innovation in Northeast Thailand. Initially, it is expected that tax measures will be introduced as part of the mechanism to attract investment. In addition, there is an emphasis on the application of digital technologies in the agricultural sector, especially through the use of Big Data from Thai entrepreneurs to strengthen the industrial sector and prevent data leakage. In addition, MDES and DEPA are also promoting the adoption of other technologies through various projects such as ONE TAMBON ONE DIGITAL (OTOD) CHUMCHON DRONE JAI and Smart Living,” said the Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

In addition, the delegation visited the “Digital Content-Driven E-Commerce Workshop: Hands-on Training for Increasing Sales with Digital Content” in the Northeast region. The event builds on the success of the CONNEXION project, which aims to improve skills and understanding of how to use digital content to effectively increase sales on e-commerce platforms. The workshop provided training to entrepreneurs selling products and services in Khon Kaen Province and surrounding areas, covering various topics such as product photography techniques, creating stories, live selling, setting up stores on social commerce platforms such as TikTok and Facebook, using data to analyze online sales channels using the eTailligence platform, and developing new local micro-influencers.

Mr. Prasert said that after talking to local entrepreneurs and influencers at the event, it became obvious that the products and services of entrepreneurs from the Northeast region have unique characteristics and the potential to become a soft powerhouse for the country. However, entrepreneurs also highlighted several issues such as lack of knowledge, understanding and skills in using digital technologies and tools to increase sales and plan marketing strategies. This gap prevents them from expanding into markets and effectively meeting the needs of today’s consumers. Therefore, today’s activities aim to mitigate these issues. At the same time, entrepreneurs need to leverage the unique strengths of the Northeast region as selling points to attract consumers.