Asst. Prof. Dr. Natthapon Nimmanphatcharin, CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa), chaired the opening ceremony of the Smart Living, Better Living project. Mr. Somsak Karcharoenkulwong, Chief Inspector of the Department of Land Reform for Agriculture, along with executives and representatives from government and private sectors, who are partners in implementing the project, also joined the ceremony.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Natthapon delivered a keynote speech titled "Digital Communities and Transforming Thailand," stating that Thailand's smart city development must begin by building the capacity of people at the local level to apply digital technology.
He explained that a smart city is not merely about installing technology but about enabling people to access, understand, and effectively use technology in daily life, especially at the community and local levels, which are essential foundations for sustainable smart city development.
Currently, over 30 million people in Thailand are involved in agriculture, representing a significant national group. Enhancing their ability to apply digital technology effectively means elevating the country's grassroots economic potential.
This creates new opportunities for communities nationwide. The Smart Living, Better Living project aims to enhance smart living dimensions, not just by installing technology but by enabling communities to learn, understand, and recognize the benefits of technology independently.
When communities can use technology to increase safety, boost income, and improve quality of life, these changes at the community level will expand to cities and ultimately lead to nationwide transformation powered by digital technology.
Dr. Supakorn Sitthichai, Acting Deputy CEO of Depa, said Smart Living, Better Living is a continuation of the 1 Tambon 1 Digital Smart Living (OTOD Smart Living) project implemented by Depa in 2025. It promotes applying digital technology in communities for smart living and smart agriculture through technologies developed by Thai entrepreneurs, including agricultural drones, IoT smart agriculture systems, smart tractors, and agricultural carbon platforms.
The project also includes technologies for community safety. It has enhanced digital skills for at least 2,700 people from 900 households nationwide and generated an economic impact of no less than 170 million baht, demonstrating digital technology's potential to improve quality of life at the local level.
For 2026, Depa is expanding efforts with the Smart Living, Better Living project, aiming to improve community quality of life and safety by applying digital technologies that address real-life needs, such as solar-powered CCTV cameras, solar lighting, and IoT smart agriculture. These technologies help enhance surveillance, prevent crime and accidents locally, while improving agricultural productivity and reducing costs.
The project plans to support an additional 40 communities. After two years of continuous implementation, it is expected that 85 communities nationwide will have been supported, with digital skills enhanced for at least 5,400 people from 1,800 households. The economic impact is projected to exceed 210 million baht, establishing a concrete foundation for grassroots smart city development.
Under the Smart Living, Better Living project, communities are encouraged to apply digital technology through support covering two years of technology usage rights and subsidies via the d-community program. Communities seeking support must be ready to invest to foster participation and ownership at the local level. Support is divided into two types:
1. Smart Safety Living: Supports usage rights for two digital safety technologies—smart CCTV and smart lighting. Communities must invest in four sets of smart CCTV and four sets of smart lighting, totaling 115,200 baht (including VAT). Depa additionally supports 10 smart CCTV sets and 20 smart lighting sets with installation, totaling 447,000 baht in support.
2. Smart Living Accelerator: Supports usage rights for the same two digital safety technologies as Smart Safety Living and provides additional subsidies for requested technologies such as smart CCTV and/or IoT for smart agriculture. Depa subsidizes 50% (up to 150,000 baht) of the technology value requested by the community through the d-community program.
The Smart Living, Better Living project invites community groups, community enterprises, or farmer groups with at least 20 households to apply from 6 to 31 March 2026. The project will conduct on-site activities to enhance digital skills for participating communities and farmers from April to September 2026.
: Award Ms. Waratcha Aekawadsaporn, Beauty Product Manager at Lion (Thailand) Company Limited, a long-standing consumer goods manufacturer and distributor in Thailand for 57 years, said that in 2026, the Shokubutsu Monogatari brand received the Market Leader Brand Award at the 2026 Thailand’s Most Admired Brand event. The brand ranked first in the consumer goods category for body wash products, reflecting ongoing consumer popularity and trust.
The award is organized by BrandAge, a leading Thai marketing media outlet, which has conducted the Thailand’s Most Admired Brand project for over 26 years. It surveys consumer opinions on the most admired and trusted brands in the Thai market, covering rankings in 12 product categories, reflecting brand image, popularity, and credibility from the consumer perspective.
Energy Saving Label 5 Amid rising living costs and electricity bills becoming a more immediate concern, air conditioner cleaning and choosing appliances with Energy Saving Label 5 are not only important for maintenance during summer but also key options to reduce energy use and household expenses effectively.
HomePro-Mega Home continues its cooperation with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in the “Air Conditioner Cleaning for the Nation - Use Label 5 Products, Save Electricity, Thailand Must Survive 2026” project. It offers a 300-baht discount per unit on air conditioner cleaning services by the CHANG HomePro team—your home professional—from 25 March to 23 May 2026. The initiative promotes efficient energy use and advances sustainable living standards.