Bangkok:Pawawut Pongwitayapanu, a Member of Parliament from the People's Party and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Enhancing Thailand's Digital Competitiveness, is urging the government to shift its perspective from controlling to promoting the gaming industry. He argues this change could unlock a market valued at 37 billion baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pawawut attended the 'Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026,' emphasizing the vast potential and business opportunities in technology and digital content for Thailand. The event, held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, showcased significant business deals last year, generating over 1.2 billion baht.
Mr. Pawawut highlighted data from the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), which estimates the Thai gaming industry's market value will surpass 37 billion baht by 2025. However, the value of game businesses owned by Thais is projected to be only 591 million baht. This disparity underscores the need for greater support in developing copyrighted games by Thai creators, despite the industry's potential to create jobs and income.
In his role as subcommittee chairman, Mr. Pawawut has engaged with DEPA, the Ministry of Culture, and other organizations to forward policy discussions. A key goal is the enactment of the 'Game Industry Promotion Act,' which aims to establish a national committee, create development plans, fund Thai game developers, and improve game rating systems.
Mr. Pawawut insists that the new law should promote and benefit entrepreneurs rather than impose restrictive controls. He calls on the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and DEPA to expedite the draft law's finalization and submission to Parliament. The People's Party has also prepared a draft of the Game Industry Promotion Act, seeking a comprehensive legislative solution.
Additionally, Mr. Pawawut encourages the government to proactively support the gaming industry through investment promotion, funding Thai studios, aligning BOI measures with game development, and organizing business matching events to boost exports.
"Gaming is not just a toy, but a new economic industry that creates jobs, generates income, and truly attracts money from around the world into Thailand," Mr. Pawawut concluded.