THAILAND TO FOCUS ON CREATIVITY

       Thailand aims to become the creative centre of Asean as well as derive 20 per cent of its economy from related industries by 2012, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.
       The strategy would boost returns to the country and increase incomes for industries and manufacturers by adding value to products and services, he said while kicking off the Creative Thailand project.
       Creativity will be a key engine to strengthen the country's economic growth in a more sustainable way, he said.
       "Creativity will change the country's economic fundamentals from relying mainly on the global economy to relying more on the domestic economy.
       "The combination of intellectural property, local wisdom and technology will strengthen Thai products and services to better compete in the global market," he said.
       Creative industries - such as fashion, film and video, design, advertising, crafts, broadcasting, publishing and architecture - accounted for 10.7 per cent of GDP in 2006, with a combined value of Bt22.19 billion, according to the National Economic and Social Development Board.
       To promote creativity-based industries, the government has set aside a budget of Bt20 billion for support projects.
       Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said the government will encourage all sectors - including agriculture, entertainment, food, education, fashion, publishing, architecture, tourism, manufacturing, and services - to adopt the "vreative economy" model.
       Under the support projects, the government will fully assist manufacturers and industries to develop their ideas and brand their products.
       It will set up an Intellectual Property Bank (IP Bank) to give innovative enterprises the financial backing they need to commercialise their products.
       A Creative Academy will also be established to promote students' creativity, Alongkorn added.