depa Forges Ahead With ‘Thailand Digital Catalog’ Initiative After Royal Gazette Publishes New Ministerial Regulations on Public Procurement Governing State Grants and Support Programs

depa Forges Ahead With ‘Thailand Digital Catalog’
Initiative After Royal Gazette Publishes New Ministerial Regulations on
Public Procurement Governing State Grants and Support Programs

The Royal Gazette published the Finance Ministry’s new ministerial regulations and guidelines on state procurement and supplies administration governing state grants and support programs (4th edition) B.E. 2566. The new ministerial regulations take effect immediately after being announced in the Royal Gazette. The Finance Ministry’s new ministerial regulations on public procurement aim to promote adoption of digital services and solutions developed by Thai digital service providers and developers listed on the Thailand Digital Catalog under the supervision of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa). Meanwhile, the future-forward “TECHHUNT” platform is being developed as an integrated digital-driven platform for all stakeholders to independently get access to a host of standardized digital products and services.

The Royal Gazette announced the Finance Ministry’s ministerial regulations on public procurement and supplies administration governing state grants and support programs (4th edition)
B.E. 2566, effective September 6. The annexation of the Royal Gazette explained the rationale behind the enforcement of the new ministerial regulations on state procurement. It said that digitalization and digitized solutions are part of public procurement and supplies that state agencies must promote and support in order to enhance adoption and utilization of digital products and services developed by
Thai digital service providers and developers that are registered and listed on the Thailand Digital Catalog initiated by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa). In addition, the International Institute for Trade and Development (Public Organization) is authorized as a state advisory agency for granting support and promotional programs.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President/CEO of depa said the Thailand Digital Catalog is fundamentally a key mechanism to accelerate and elevate development of the Thai digital economy. The digital catalog features a comprehensive collection of digital products and services and digital solutions developed by Thai digital service providers who qualified and complied with standards and pricing requirements. The Thailand Digital Catalog also plays a crucial role in screening and selecting certified, best-quality, and most viable digital products and services that are available at reasonable prices. It provides greater convenience to individuals and government agencies looking for standardized digital products and services and advanced digital technologies to improve their efficiency, performance, and effectiveness of public services.

Moreover, the new ministerial regulations on state procurement also provides Thai digital services providers good opportunities to tap into the government market, in which the state agencies can independently source, assess and find viable digital products and services available on the Thailand Digital Catalog through the state procurement process, helping to promote transparency and create a level playing field in the public procurement and supplies administration. It is standardized and verifiable as the public stand to benefit from improving efficiency in public services through the use of digital technologies and solutions developed by Thais. It is also in alignment with the smart city development framework aimed at elevating the quality of life of all people.

The depa is the main government agency that is accepting applications of digital products and services for listing on the Thailand Digital Catalog. It is responsible for certifying the qualifications of Thai digital service providers and developers as well as screening and justifying digital products and services that want to list on the digital catalog such as Software, Software as a Service, Digital Content Service, Smart Devices and Hardware, and Firmware and many more. Digital products and services on the Thailand Digital Catalog that aligned with the standards and requirements stipulated by the depa include CMMI, ISO for Software, and dSURE for Smart Devices. Their operations security standards and cyber security standards have been certified. Users can rest assured that their data and information are fundamentally secure and stored in Thailand without worrying about data leakage. Prices of all digital products and services are clearly indicated and they are trustworthy in accordance with rules and regulations of the Comptroller General’s Department.

In addition, the depa is going to unveil the new “TECHHUNT” platform (https://techhunt.depa.or.th) that gathers a wide selection of digital products and services developed by certified Thai digital service providers and developers. The TECHHUNT platform will provide all individuals, stakeholders, agencies and organizations across segments with the rights to equally and independently access digital solutions.

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