He said this is necessary to build Thailand’s sustainable economy.
The ceremony was held at Bangkok’s BITEC Convention Center on Sunday.
Shretha said there are many positives in the Thai economy, especially post-election, but there is a need to take collective responsibility to contribute to its progress.
Regarding the controversial digital wallet project, though opinions differ, he said the 10,000 baht digital wallet is crucial to counter the current crisis.
Referring to the GDP of other ASEAN countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, Shretha said their economic expansion figures were much higher than Thailand’s 2% growth in the past nine years.
Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in Thailand’s potential to achieve similar results.
He added that the government has taken several steps to boost the economy in the past two months, such as deferring farmers’ loans, reducing electricity and oil prices and offering free visas in a bid to boost tourism.
Shretha also underlined Thailand’s attractiveness as an investment destination, but to capitalize on that, it is necessary to introduce supportive measures such as tax incentives and free trade agreements.
He said that concrete action is needed to attract investors, which requires discussions, negotiations and joint action.
In terms of tourism, he said his government is focusing on secondary cities and opening new airports. He added that it is time for the transport sector to expand its reach.