The policy planning and implementation, as well as the preparation for the entry of Thailand to ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), may possibly effect economics and trade of Thailand, which may bring about effect on well-being of Thai people and the poor, who may suffer from debt problem, losing their lands and effect from failing society. Therefore, it is significant to educate people to learn how to live with what they have, to live with sufficient economy philosophy and to be happy with their current status. From the reasons above, the interpellant would like to raise questions as follows:

1. After the entry of Thailand to ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), what is the Ministry of Culture’s policy in dealing with economics and trade of Thailand, which may bring about effect on well-being of the people and lead to social problem such as crimes and frauds? What is the preventive measure in tackling with the problem arising in the future?

          2. How will the Ministry of Culture promote Thai people to enhance morality strength in order to avoid being victims of frauds, which may arise from economic and social development? What measures will be applied? Please clarify in details.

Answer to the questions the Ministry of Culture is the main partner of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to prepare human resource for the entry of Thailand to ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. The Ministry is well aware of the role of culture as one of the linkages among ASEAN member countries and as the preparatory factor of the country in socio-cultural aspect. The preparation aims to moving towards ASEAN while promoting Thai identity and common awareness on ASEAN Community ownership based on public participation, creation of the equilibrium on creative economic development and cultural heritage preservation by:

1. Promoting capacity building in related personnel in order to aware and understand both Thai and ASEAN’s identity and cultural heritage.

2. Promoting community engaging, especially by cultural community, in creating ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, local identity preservation and inheritance as well as promotion of Thai culture and local wisdom as vital role of ASEAN Identity creation.

3. Establishing cultural networking by promoting artists’ and cultural community’s participation in every level as well as promoting the cooperation through integral operation between public and private sectors in charge of ASEAN culture.

4. Establishing connectivity in ASEAN Community, especially via public sector by cultural knowledge management and dissemination, common awareness and understanding on common cultural heritage of ASEAN.

5. Promoting creativity by extending and creating Thai local wisdom for commercial benefit, along with the application of production and communication technology. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain the equilibrium between cultural identity and creative industry development.

6. Establishing community sustainability by creating the continuity and consistency in support and promotion of Thai culture as important mechanismin building knowledge, cooperation and connectivity among Thailand in ASEAN member countries for better understanding and closer relationship. This will lead to further cooperation in social and cultural aspects, thus bring about economic and social stability and ASEAN Community’s prosperity. ASEAN Community will focus mainly on economic interest and adjustment on attitude in equal and peaceful harmony of living. Thai society has to attain knowledge and information that create understanding and knowledge literacy on the changing society.