Sipa to bring “e-life’ to Thailand

PHUKET CITY: Kruewal Somana, Adviser to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, today explained the aims of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa), which will open an office on Monday at Saphan Hin. At a seminar in the Royal Phuket City Hotel this afternoon, she said that Sipa will support all sectors of society by bringing them the benefits of what she termed “e-life”. It will also open wide the door for foreigners to build software businesses in Phuket. “Phuket is the second province in Sipa’s pilot program,” she said. “We just opened the first office in Chiang Mai and the third will be in Khon Kaen. “Sipa’s roles are to promote the software industry as one in which to invest, and to support software businesses in Thailand that play roles in e-government, e-education, e-society, e-commerce and e-industry,” she explained. “Sipa will provide a one-stop service for foreign investors, giving them all the information they need as well as organizing work permits. “Companies that invest in activities that are in line with Sipa’s aims will be regarded as business partners with the government. This means they will receive preferential treatment as well as being eligible for financial support,” she said.