Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra outlined her administration’s 90-day progress report on December 12, presenting a forward-looking agenda for 2025 under the theme “2025 Empowering Thais: A Real Possibility.” While focusing on future initiatives, the speech garnered a mixed response, with opposition parties criticizing the lack of concrete achievements.
In her address, which aired on the state-run NBT station, Paetongtarn highlighted a series of ambitious projects, including plans to tackle environmental challenges. Among these were floodway construction and a target to reduce burning activities in Chiang Mai by 50% to combat PM2.5 pollution. Additionally, the government will focus on economic reforms, including support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rice exports and the promotion of industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs), and semiconductors. A workforce development initiative aims to train 280,000 students to improve Thailand’s competitiveness in these areas.
The government also unveiled social welfare programs, including the “One Tambon One Scholarship,” designed to provide educational opportunities for students to attend top universities, both in Thailand and abroad. The “Baan Pheu Khon Thai” housing project promises affordable 30-square-meter apartments, with 99-year leasehold options priced at 4,000 baht per month.
One of the most significant initiatives discussed was the Digital Wallet program, which is being rolled out in three phases. The first phase was completed in 2024, benefiting 14 million vulnerable citizens. The second phase will distribute cash payments to 4 million elderly citizens by January 29, 2025, while the final phase aims to establish a full digital wallet system by the end of 2025. The initiative is a key part of the government’s goal to transition Thailand into a more digital economy. Other announcements included a three-year debt moratorium for individuals with significant debt, as well as a maximum 20-baht fare for MRT lines and the establishment of bilingual schools at the district level in 2025.
While these plans are designed to position Thailand as a global culinary and festival destination, the response to the speech was not unanimous. Opposition leader Nattapong Ruangpanyawut of the People’s Party criticized the government for failing to provide concrete solutions to ongoing issues such as bureaucratic reform and decentralization. He also stressed the need for more effective border control to address Thailand’s drug problems. Sirikanya Tansakul, deputy leader of the People’s Party, pointed out that despite the government having been in power for over a year, it had not yet delivered a comprehensive review of past achievements.
On the other hand, the business sector offered support for the government’s initiatives. Sanan Angubolkul, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, praised the administration’s focus on tourism, soft power, and its success in attracting global investments in technology sectors like data centers, cloud services, and semiconductor manufacturing. However, he also acknowledged that improvements were needed in workforce development and investment incentives.
As Thailand moves toward 2025, the government’s proposed plans are set to shape the nation’s future, though the balance of support and criticism indicates that much work lies ahead to turn these ambitious goals into tangible results.
