Bangkok: The Thai government has extended an invitation to Canva to establish a regional office and research center for AI-Design in Thailand, aimed at developing technology and personnel in the design sector to assist 40,000 Thai SMEs.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Ekniti Nitithanpraphas, shared the outcomes of the Prime Minister's visit to Australia, highlighting the potential collaboration with Canva, an Australian digital design technology company. This initiative is seen as a significant opportunity to boost Thailand's creative economy by linking Thai designers, SMEs, and the education sector to the digital economy and international markets.
Currently, Canva serves over 265 million monthly users across more than 190 countries, including 475 Fortune 500 companies. In Thailand, there are over 7 million monthly Canva users, with more than 30 million cumulative user accounts, making it the 6th largest market globally by users. This indicates the readiness and potential of Thai people in the design industry and the creative economy.
The Thai government has therefore invited Canva to consider establishing a regional office and AI-Design research center in Thailand. This would position Thailand not only as a user of the technology but also as a developmental base for technology and design personnel in the region.
This collaboration is set to directly benefit Thai entrepreneurs by working with the Department of Business Development (DBD) and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) to help 40,000 Thai SMEs enhance their product image, packaging, campaigns, and marketing materials, thereby improving their competitiveness and market reach both locally and globally.
The initiative also includes plans to increase the number of Thai designers, or Canva Creators, from the current 190 to 1,000 by 2028, while improving their AI skills. This will allow Thai designers to showcase their work on a global scale and create direct income opportunities.
Additionally, the education sector will gain from partnerships with the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) and the Office of Private Education Commission (OPEC), offering free access to Canva Education for teachers and students. The aim is to expand the user base from 3.3 million to 6.6 million by 2028.
Mr. Ekniti emphasized that the collaboration with Canva aligns with the government's economic strategy of using technology from international partners to enhance the capabilities of Thai people, thereby creating new jobs, skills, and income within the country.
Thailand and Australia have complementary strengths, with Thailand excelling in food production and processing, and Australia leading in AgriTech, renewable energy, digital technology, and advanced manufacturing. Therefore, cooperation in the Creative Economy and AI can further strengthen the economic ties between the two nations.
"The goal is not just to attract world-class technology companies, but to enable Thai people and Thai businesses to grow alongside global technology, from students and designers to SMEs, and to make Thailand play a greater role in the global creative and digital economy," said Mr. Ekniti.