For the President’s Big4 Agenda, Lets Imitate Thailand
It is now a cliche to say Thailand and Kenya had same Economy 50 years ago. Thereafter, our routes went different directions. Thailand’s GDP is now surpassing us$410B and unstoppable. Ours is at paltry us$70B and trying to get by … But with our population growing at over 3% p.a., with high incidence of poverty, we will be forced to divert money to poverty-related diseases and not the economy.
Thailand deliberately picked the following phases of development:
1. Thailand 1.0: This was their development in 1960’s & 1970’s to make Thailand self sufficient in food. Basic agricultural reforms were enacted to increase the yield of food for consumption. Exports wasn’t the target. A satisfied nation is a healthy nation.
2. Thailand 2.0: As the people were now well fed, the Nation begun light industries. People had energy to produce basic tools and equipment that didn’t need technology. Furniture, pottery, clothes etc became specialized business. Now people had full stomachs and money in their pockets.
3. Thailand 3.0: Thailand went to the next stage where it is now as an industrialized country. Big investments were made in heavy industry including steel, automobiles and energy. Reliance on modern technology was imported. Thailand became location of choice for foreign companies. An enabling environment was created to attract multi-billion dollar investments. Every sector in Thailand including agriculture now used the latest techno,ivy.
5. Thailand 4.0: Thailand has embarked on its next phase to be a First World Country. This phase will be driven by themes of Security, Prosperity & Sustainability. Being industrialized and being First World are mutually exclusive. A country can be industrialized but still have 3rd World problems of poverty, slums, diseases etc. However, in First World like most of Europe, USA, Canada, Singapore etc, everyone has all basic amenities and services are First Class.
In the Four Years remaining of our President, we need to lay a strong Foundation of our own Kenya 2.0 …. And in this, try to combine Thailand’s 1.0 & 2.0. We love Kenya, but we want tried and tasted phases of development.
