| Different stages of development require different levels of infrastructure upgrades or enhancements to ensure that infrastructure facilitates economic growth rather than impedes it. A middle-income country, Thailand is facing a number of infrastructure challenges. To name a few: there is a need for infrastructure services to catch up with economic development and international competition, manage the growth in urban areas, respond to global energy prices, and ensure basic services for the poor. Most of the infrastructure development in Thailand has been responsive to demand rather than forward-looking. Availability and accessibility appear to no longer be a challenge. The next step for Thailand is to put more emphasis on quality of service delivery, management, and sound regulation. This report is a product of collaboration between the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and the World Bank. It is an output under the Country Development Partnership for Infrastructure (CDP-Infra), a three-year cooperation program launched in 2007.
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| | Â Â | | Chapter I: Overview of Thailand's Infrastructure Development |
| Most of the infrastructure development in Thailand has been demand responsive and focused mainly on infrastructure provision. Thailand needs to move toward ensuring quality of service deliveries, management, and sound regulation. Because of the government's financial constraints, prioritization is also very important.
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| | Chapter II: Transport Sector |
| Land transport in Thailand is dominated by road transport, despite rail transport's potential to be energy-efficient and more cost-effective. Key issues in this sector include the need to improve transport modal mix, better rail system and management, improve the national highway maintenance, increase private participation, and limit access to highways, as well as growing regional competition. Download Chapter IIÂ
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| | Chapter III: Energy Sector |
| The two sectors that consume most energy are transport and manufacturing. More than 60% of energy supply here is imported. Thailand also relies heavily on major commercial energy such as petroleum products, natural gas and coal. To achieve energy efficiency, there needs to be a shift toward more use of the rail system in transport. Measures to promote energy efficient practices among industrial operators are also needed. Download Chapter III
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| | Chapter IV: Telecommunications Sector |
| Access to affordable broadband internet service will be crucial for the development of the e-commerce and the knowledge economy in Thailand. Policies needed in this sector are ones that promote timely and cost-effective deployment of new technologies, while supporting adequate and fair competition.
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| | Chapter V: Water, Sanitation and Low-Income Housing Sector |
| Water shortages, a relatively high rate of water loss, and price controls are key concerns in this sector. The wastewater and solid waste management sub-sector is unable to respond adequately to rising demands, and sanitation standards remain an issue. The development of low-income housing is not well planned. Policy shifts in budget allocations presents major challenges to sustainable development of low-income housing.
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| | Chapter VI: Future Challenges |
| Thailand's vulnerability to rising oil prices is the immediate concern. Other challenges include energy security, project financing and prioritization, the need to increase private participation in infrastructure development, and negative public opinion toward privatization as well as new large-scale investments. Weak institutional capacity and the lack of appropriate pricing mechanisms as well as user fees also must be addressed to ensure the long term success of every sector. Download Chapter VI
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