Senate Approves 2570 Fiscal Year Budget Bill
Thailand's Senate approved the 2570 fiscal year budget bill with strong support, featuring a new government cloud infrastructure project expected to save the country roughly 3 billion baht in public sector IT costs.
On September 11, 2569, the Senate voted to approve the draft fiscal year 2570 budget bill following House approval. Deputy Prime Minister Paradon Parisunanon explained that this is the first budget prepared by the current government and represents necessary reforms to manage escalating recurring expenditures. He clarified that the Digital Economy and Society Ministry's increased budget allocation was specifically for the GDCC project, a national government cloud infrastructure that will consolidate services for all public agencies, reducing costs by approximately 3 billion baht compared to the original 6 billion baht allocation by allowing agencies to share a single system rather than operate separately. The vote approved the budget 145 to 5, with 12 abstentions. Prime Minister Anuthchai Charnveerakul, who had just returned from Norway, expressed his regret at being unable to attend the Senate proceedings personally but thanked the chamber for approving the bill, which he described as a crucial tool for implementing government policies, national strategy, and development plans aimed at ensuring national security, public happiness, and sustainable economic growth.
