Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a technical assistance grant to Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) to advance the development of smart city projects and critical information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure for Phuket.
“Thailand has an ambitious smart cities agenda, and USTDA is proud to partner with DEPA and the Phuket Provincial Government to achieve their goals,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “By helping Phuket deploy these innovative and cutting-edge solutions, we will have a positive impact on the lives of the Thai people and millions of international tourists who visit each year. Our work will also help create opportunities for U.S. companies to supply the kinds of technologies and services that meet Phuket’s specific needs.”
USTDA’s assistance will help develop technical requirements and a detailed strategy for the buildout of the Phuket Smart City Data Platform, a tool that leverages data and technology innovations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of city management and citizen services. The assistance will facilitate the upgrade of Phuket’s integrated operations center capabilities and core ICT infrastructure, including traffic control and emergency communications systems, fiberoptic networks, data servers, cloud migration, cybersecurity, and 5G.
“This project is a great example of how the U.S.-Thai partnership can stimulate a vibrant digital economy and provide direct benefits for Thais, while contributing to Thailand’s efforts to build a greener, smarter, and higher-value tourism sector,” said Gwendolyn J. Cardno, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. “With the United States as a partner, Thailand can benefit from decades of American innovation and thrive in this era of digital transformation.”
DEPA President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, added: “Working closely with DEPA, Phuket has been proactive in adopting purposeful technological solutions to improve the well-being and economic viability of its citizens and visitors. Thanks to the strong support of both USTDA and the Phuket Provincial Government, we are confident that this technical assistance will lead to a long-term citizen-centric digital transformation and strengthen ties among all parties involved.”
Phuket, an island province located in southern Thailand on the Andaman Sea, is one of the top tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, welcoming more than 10 million visitors per year. Phuket is one of the 26 official members of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, a collaborative platform where cities from the ten ASEAN Member States work towards the common goal of smart and sustainable urban development.
This activity advances the goals of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) to develop and deploy secure information and communications technology networks and infrastructure to catalyze economic growth and facilitate open digital societies.
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded technical assistance should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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