Prime Minister’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai has defended the government’s Soft Power policy and related spending during a four-day session of the House of Representatives, held from 28 to 31 May. Opposition members criticized the budget allocation, claiming the combined funding from 2024 to 2026 exceeds 18 billion baht, with nearly 10 billion allocated for 2026 alone. The Minister challenged these figures and addressed concerns about the policy’s outcomes.
Jiraporn clarified that the 2026 budget currently under review is just over 4 billion baht and remains in its first reading. No funds have yet been approved or disbursed. She argued that the opposition’s higher figure was based on calculations drawn from various unrelated sources. Since the actual implementation of the budget only began in August 2024, she stressed that less than a full year of spending has occurred, making early assessments of its impact premature.
The government’s Soft Power policy operates through a three-level framework involving national strategy, project development, and industry-specific planning. The approach covers industry development, skills training, international outreach, and cooperation with the private sector. This structure ensures coordinated efforts across agencies and avoids duplicate projects.
Several measures are already underway, including a tax-exempt zone for art galleries to attract international collectors, proposed tax deductions for art purchases, and expanded rebates for film and television production. The government has also supported Thai representation at global cultural events, such as the Taipei International Book Exhibition, which saw a substantial increase in attendance. Domestically, the Maha Songkran festival attracted over one million participants and generated well over 4 billion baht in economic activity within five days.
According to Minister Jiraporn, Thailand’s Soft Power efforts have gained growing international attention. Bangkok was ranked the world’s most visited city in 2024 by Euromonitor International, while six Thai dishes were included in TasteAtlas’s list of the top 100 global dishes. The World Economic Forum recently invited Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to speak on the topic, representing increasing global interest. The Minister concluded that the policy is a long-term investment in building national identity, fostering economic growth, and enhancing international visibility, with results that will continue to emerge over time.
Source: NNT
