Bangkok: Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has introduced a groundbreaking "3T" strategy aimed at transforming the Thai economy and addressing the pressing energy crisis. Speaking at the "Battle Strategy 2026 Winning the New World Order" forum organized by Khao Hoon Business Newspaper, Ekniti emphasized the severity of the current energy crisis, which he considers to be more impactful than the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted the global challenges posed by disruptions to energy infrastructure, including oil and natural gas production, due to ongoing conflicts.
According to Thai News Agency, Ekniti's proposed strategy comprises three key components: Target, Transition, and Transform. The "Targeted Approach" focuses on addressing the rising global energy prices by shifting from indiscriminate subsidies to more focused assistance. This approach aims to bolster Thailand's core industries, such as high-value agriculture, food processing, electric vehicles, health and wellness tourism, and the AI sector. The strategy also seeks to attract skilled and high-income professionals to live and work in Thailand.
The strategy further emphasizes "promoting transition" to clean energy and "accelerating reform" to tackle the challenges of an aging society and labor shortages. Ekniti underscored the importance of embracing artificial intelligence to enhance the skills of the Thai workforce. He warned that failure to adapt to these new realities could lead Thailand into a deeper crisis.