OECD - Multi-dimensional Review of Thailand

Multi-dimensional Country Reviews are the result of a collaborative effort of the OECD and the country under review. Work on the third phase of the MDCR of Thailand was carried out jointly by the OECD Development Centre and the OECD Environment Directorate, with excellent support from the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (former the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board) in Thailand.

The review was produced under the guidance of Mario Pezzini Director of the OECD Development Centre. The review was led and coordinated by Jan Rielnder, Head of Multidimensional Country Reviews at the Development Centre. It was drafted by Andrea Colombo and Jan Rielnder (OECD Development Centre), and Matthew Griffiths (OECD Environment Directorate). Vararat Atisophon provided excellent project management and statistical support. The review also benefited from the contributions made by Nhung Tran (OECD Development Centre) and Soojin Jeong (OECD Environment Directorate). Secretarial assistance was provided by Myriam Andrieux (OECD Development Centre).

The team is grateful for insightful contributions and comments provided by Juan De Laiglesia (OECD Development Centre), Ana Moreno Monroy, Oriana Romano and Hkan Tropp (OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities), and Xavier Leflaive (OECD Environment Directorate).

Thosaporn Sirisumphand, Secretary General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) supported the review. Pattama Teanravisitsagool (Deputy Secretary General of the NESDC) and her team have been a valuable counterpart throughout the process, both technically and analytically. Ratthasapa Submuang, Chidabha Chitsamphandhvej, Ampassacha Rakkhumkaeo, Potcharapol Prommatat and Duangruetai Surasakjinda played a key role in the continuous interaction between the OECD team, the NESDC and other representatives from the Government of Thailand. The MDCR team is moreover grateful to Arnunchanog Sakondhavat, Pataraporn Laowong, Boonchoob Songtragoolsak and Nisawan Pitchdumrong for having retrieved and shared key data.

Participants at two policy dialogue events, held in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in November and December 2018, worked through the findings and recommendations of the earlier MCDR reports, and threw the basis of the action plans. The workshops Unlocking the potential of Northern provinces held in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai counted on the participations of staff from Public and Private sectors in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Lamphun and Lampang; the Provincial Government Office, the Provincial Adminstrative Organization, the National Statistical Office, the Office of Commercial Affairs, the Highway District, the Provincial Industrial Office, the Provincial Agricultural Extension office, the Provincial Land Office, the Customs Office and the Port Authority of Chiang Saen, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Business Associationthe, Mae Fah Luang University, the Northern Science Park and the School of Public Policy in Chinag Mai University.