Bangkok: The House Finance Committee has strongly urged the Parliament to create a strategic roadmap to secure Thailand's membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) by 2028. This move is seen as a pivotal step towards transforming Thailand into a high-income nation.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chris Potranan, the spokesperson for the Committee on Finance, Fiscal Affairs, Financial Institutions, and Financial Markets, articulated the committee's vision during a recent press conference. He emphasized the necessity of leveraging parliamentary mechanisms to draft a comprehensive roadmap for Thailand's OECD membership. The OECD, comprising countries like Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, represents a consortium of high-income and developed nations. Membership in this esteemed organization would provide Thailand with access to a wealth of resources, including consultancy from member states' government agencies, a platform for information exchange, and a rich database of statistics and knowledge. Such membership is anticipated to drive structural reforms across various sectors, aligning Thailand with international legal standards, enhancing its global competitiveness, and improving its international image, thereby attracting foreign investment and boosti ng service sectors.
Ms. Natthida Lekaudakorn, another spokesperson for the committee, detailed the membership process, noting that Thailand has successfully completed the first five of ten steps, which include the initial application and assessment phases. Currently, the nation is engaged in step six, the technical assessment, working closely with all 25 OECD committees. This phase involves a thorough evaluation of Thailand's laws, policies, and practices to ensure they meet OECD standards.
Ms. Kanjanaporn Jiraphanwanich, also a spokesperson for the committee, emphasized the need for urgency and strategic foresight. She cautioned against the traditional approach of waiting for government agencies to amend laws before parliamentary submission, which could jeopardize the 2028 membership goal. Instead, she advocated for a proactive strategy, utilizing parliamentary mechanisms to propose a roadmap for OECD membership, securing approval in principle first and amending laws subsequently. This approach, she stressed, is crucial for seizing the golden opportunity that OECD membership represents, positioning Thailand on a trajectory towards becoming a high-income country.