The Department of Industrial Works organized the Green Industry Awards ceremony for the fiscal year 2024 “Stepping towards sustainable success…with community and environmental care…with green industry” to promote and develop business establishments towards green industries.
Mr. Ekkanat Promphan, Minister of Industry, revealed that the Ministry of Industry is committed to developing and enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial sector in order to expand the Thai economy as a whole by developing infrastructure, regulations, and labor quality skills in line with the current context, along with social and environmental responsibility. Therefore, policies have been set to focus on reforms in 3 areas: 1) Reforms on waste and toxic substances that harm people’s lives; 2) Save Thai industries; and 3) Creating new economic industries. These will be implemented in 3 approaches: 1) Creating cooperation and partnerships for a complete industrial chain; 2) Establishing a fund for industrial system reform; and 3) Adjusting laws and missions into the digital government sector to create Ease of Doing Business.
The promotion of the industrial sector towards green industry is part of the operation to achieve the policy of the Ministry of Industry by improving the new green industry criteria by emphasizing the sustainable development of industrial businesses alongside communities, promoting and upgrading establishments to conduct industrial businesses in accordance with the goal of reducing the impact on climate change and the environment by using resources efficiently, supporting sustainable production and consumption according to the BCG concept to drive towards carbon neutrality and net zero greenhouse gas emissions that meet the needs of Thailand and the global community, being socially responsible along with distributing income to communities, and being competitive at the international level.
Mr. Nattapol Rangsitpol, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, said that the Ministry of Industry is promoting and developing business establishments into green industries by focusing on raising awareness for personnel at all levels to have knowledge and understanding about sustainable development, disseminating knowledge, ideas, and experiences from successful organizations to serve as examples and guidelines for tangible practices for business establishments through various media, including creating and developing experts, assessors, and providing assistance services to business establishments to be able to develop into green industries in order to promote and develop the competitiveness of Thai industries to be able to adapt and respond to changes in technology or global trade trends.
Mr. Chulapong Taveesri, Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, said that the Green Industry Awards Ceremony
is being held for the 6th year. This year, awards are given to establishments that have been certified Green Industry Level 4 and Level 5 in 2023-2024, totaling 325 establishments, consisting of Green Industry Level 5, Green Network, totaling 36 establishments, and Green Industry Level 4, Green Culture, totaling 289 establishments. This is to increase opportunities and encourage establishments to prioritize the development of industries that are environmentally friendly, safe in their operations, and socially responsible, leading to sustainable coexistence between industrial plants, society, and surrounding communities.
Benefits for factories that have received Green Industry certification from Level 2 and above, such as using the GI logo on products, receiving investment promotion, receiving marketing opportunities, and being supported to access sources of funding.
At present (information as of 20 September 2024), there are 57,663 establishments that have received green industry certification, divided into
(1) Level 1 Green Commitment, with 50,591 certificates;
(2) Level 2 Green Activity, with 3,112 certificates;
(3) Level 3 Green System, with 3,455 certificates;
(4) Level 4 Green Culture, with 429 certificates; and
(5) Level 5 Green Network, with 76 certificates.
Source: Thai News Agency