Seminar: Mindset rejig key to transforming growth

Leveraging technology, longevity tourism, and a new mindset seeking challenges are key for Thailand to reinvent its economic growth, according to the KBTG Techtopia 2025 seminar.

- SUCHIT LEESA-NGUANSUK

From left: Mr Santitarn, Mr Piyachart and Mr Ruangroj.

The country should also focus on “crosscutting industries” by combining existing industry strengths with new trends, panellists said during the event.

“Thailand’s working-age population shrinks every year, acting as a drag on the economy. This is why our GDP growth is often the slowest rate in the region,” said Santitarn Sathirathai, a member of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee.

With limited domestic growth, entrepreneurs must seek opportunities outside the country and leverage technology more effectively to enhance productivity, he said.

The trend of globalisation is shifting from export-led growth towards services, such as tourism and emerging digital and service-based sectors, said Mr Santitarn.

As the world is mainly divided into US and China-led blocs, countries outside these blocs are seeking new alliances, making Asean a highly sought-after partner. This has created a strategic opportunity that Thailand must leverage, he said.

Mr Santitarn said there are four emerging classes in the emerging artificial intelligence (AI) era.

The first class — dubbed “AI landlords” — is the wealthiest, owning core AI models, computing power, and energy. This class earns “rent” from widespread AI use.

The second is “cyborgs” — referring to those who skillfully integrate AI into their work, gaining a competitive edge.

The third class is service professionals, who rely on the irreplaceable human touch in roles such as teaching, nursing, and therapy.