Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the possibility of a "Super License" for doing business here in Thailand. I thought of making this video after reading a recent, this was actually a posting on X on Twitter, under Thai Enquirer, that is @ThaiEnquirer on X, quoting directly: "Draft government policy to review Free Visa, Introduce  "Super License" System. Details of the draft government policy statement have been reported ahead of its presentation to Parliament on April 9-10, with plans to review the Free Visa scheme and introduce a "Super License" system among key priorities. 

I've discussed in another video that I think this “Visa free “review may be the preamble if you will or preface to them actually seeing comprehensive immigration reform in Thailand. I could see a new Immigration Act coming out of this Parliament, at some point; I am not saying immediately but at some point. The late great Barry Kenyon talked about that over the past summer; we lost him unfortunately due to a traffic accident. I, at the time he brought it up, I thought it was unlikely that was going to happen. In the intervening six or eight months that have gone by now, I am starting to think he was right that in fact we probably will see at least some form of immigration reform coming out of this Parliament. Exactly what that looks like remains to be seen. 

That said, the thrust of this video gets into the notion of a "Super License". So quoting further: "According to reports, the proposed Super License would streamline public services and is targeted to take effect within 180 days, while an omnibus law package to address outdated regulations is expected within one year. The Government also aims to tackle structural corruption and reform public procurement laws. The 19-page draft policy framework is divided into five key areas. Economic Policy focuses on boosting investment, supporting SMEs, and restructuring the economy for the digital era." Well what does that mean? 

I have discussed this in many other videos. All of this notion of restructuring everything and making everything digital, I get it's the flavour of the month and everybody wants to be on board with that buzzword. But everything we've seen - and I personally have to deal with certain aspects of this in an American Immigration primarily context - it doesn't make things easier. I have dealt with a number of clients recently who are having to deal with the Social Security Administration and now there is this new ID Me protocol associated with being able to deal with anything in many of the US bureaucracies, not least of which being Social Security which is pertinent to the many of the retirees fundamentally out here. It's hell on wheels; it's Sovietism digitized and made even less accountable and even less efficient. It's just not a good system and we are just rushing headlong into this, and I find it deeply concerning. The other thing with regard to digitization, it reminds me a lot of smartphones. We just all adopted them, I just watched society do that - and I was fortunate insofar, not fortunate in one sense - but I was here during 2010, and the sort of conflagration if you will that erupted, especially in May of 2010 here in Thailand, has always acted as a kind of dividing line in my mind between sort of the pre-smartphone era and the post-smartphone era, because sometime by 2000, roughly 11, maybe early 2012, it seemed like everybody had almost smartphones. I mean it wasn't quite to the level of ubiquitousness we see now, but around that time, I started seeing more of them and Thailand has just changed, so has the world, and a lot of the changes are not for the better. I mean that's the thing is all of this talk of digitization is just, it's spoken of and presumed it's like it is self-evident that it's an improvement, when it's quite the opposite. 

That said, quoting further: "Alongside promoting trade, modernizing agriculture, and shifting tourism towards higher-value offerings. Foreign and security policy emphasizes strengthening border security and addressing cross-border issues with neighbouring countries, including continued efforts to resolve Thailand-Cambodia matters through peaceful bilateral mechanisms. Social policy centres on expanding access to free education linked to employment, improving nationwide healthcare access, and reforming Social Security to reflect modern work patterns, with increased use of AI in medical services." Quoting further: "The draft also outlines disaster and environmental measures including improved Water Management Systems the use of Big Data and AI for forecasting, a National Disaster Insurance scheme, and a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050." 

A lot of this stuff I'm not sure if it's good for the country at all. But circling back here to this notion of a Super License. Yes, I do understand especially foreign businesses would very much like to see a streamlined process for dealing with certain licensing. I get it. We deal with a lot of corporate compliance; we assist many clients with licenses, not least of which are things like liquor licenses, alcohol licenses, tobacco licenses, cannabis licenses depending on the nature of the business. Again, these licenses are requisite, and they can be cumbersome to deal with sort of where they are all scattered out like sticks in the wind. I understand the idea of streamlining it, but let's be careful what we wish for here, because too much digitization, I am not sure if that is good for the economy here in the Kingdom of Thailand.