It is widely recognized that "ETDA, or the Electronic Transactions Development Agency," has a core mission to contribute to building a digital society, aimed at enhancing economic value and elevating the country’s competitive edge. Two major national goals are central to this mission: increasing the digital economy's contribution to GDP to 30% and improving Thailand’s global digital competitiveness ranking to 30th by 2027—a strategy referred to as "30:30."

To achieve these ambitious targets, ETDA is accelerating efforts to establish a robust foundation for a confident transition into a digital society. This involves strengthening the digital ecosystem, developing necessary infrastructure, and setting clear rules, standards, and guidelines. The aim is to enable a dynamic, accessible, secure, and well-informed digital environment that benefits all. Over the past 13 years of relentless efforts, ETDA has achieved notable milestones, including advancing Thailand’s global digital competitiveness ranking from 40th to 35th—bringing it closer to the 30:30 target.

The next steps are more intensive and challenging, as countries worldwide strive to harness “digital” strategies to drive economic growth, societal advancement, and national power. Responding to these transformative waves, ETDA is intensifying its efforts, expanding its impact, and enhancing effectiveness across four key areas:

1. Digital Infrastructure and Ecosystem
ETDA is accelerating the completion of Thailand's digital ecosystem through four main focuses:
(1) Document Management: Establishing a trustworthy, secure, and easily auditable document management infrastructure. While progress has been made, particularly in Digital ID and Certification Authority (CA) for verifying e-Signatures, ETDA continues to push for improvements, including legal updates to align with UN model laws, targeted for completion by 2025.
(2) Digital Platform Services: Developing measures to govern digital platforms that impact large populations, ensuring safety, trustworthiness, and fair competition, particularly with international platforms.
(3) AI & Data Sharing: Proposing laws and measures to facilitate reliable and user-friendly data sharing. ETDA emphasizes transparency within AI ecosystems to clarify roles and responsibilities for safe AI and data utilization.
(4) Legal & Standards: Enhancing laws and standards to support smooth digital activities. ETDA also promotes innovation through "Innovation Sandboxes," allowing service providers to test technologies in a controlled environment.

2. Digital Service and Governance
ETDA focuses on governance mechanisms to ensure responsible digital and AI usage.

• In platform services, ETDA prioritizes creating safeguards against issues such as fraud while encouraging participation in governance through best practices and self-regulation ecosystems.
• On AI governance, ETDA promotes responsible AI deployment by collaborating with NECTEC and NSTDA to assess the need for a central AI regulatory body, while developing tools like AI Project Management guidelines to address ethical and operational concerns.

3. Adoption and Transformation
ETDA is intensifying efforts to promote the adoption of digital tools, particularly Digital ID, which has already been integrated into 449 public services out of 1,626 available. The target is to increase this to 80% by 2025. The agency also aims to support SMEs in adopting digital technologies by developing models that enable their transition to the digital economy. Challenges include a lack of funding, particularly for small enterprises, which ETDA plans to address in the near future.

4. Digital Workforce, Literacy, and Protection
ETDA is enhancing digital literacy and workforce readiness through initiatives targeting three key groups:
1) Building a skilled digital workforce: Developing training programs to equip workers with modern digital skills, targeting 90,000 trained individuals by 2027.
2) Empowering communities: Leveraging digital technologies to create jobs and reduce unemployment by training community digital coaches and establishing social enterprises (SEs).
3) Promoting safe digital practices: Expanding initiatives like EDC Trainers to ensure safe and inclusive digital usage, while addressing online risks.

These steps underscore ETDA's dedication to building a secure and thriving digital ecosystem in Thailand, in collaboration with all stakeholders, to achieve the 30:30 target and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.