On 12 March 2026, the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) held a consultation meeting with the Comptroller General’s Department (CGD) to explore approaches for incorporating initiatives into Thailand’s National Action Plan (NAP) under the Open Government Partnership (OGP). The meeting included discussions with Mr. Jakapan Kongkraprasit, representative of the Comptroller General’s Department, and his team. Key points are summarized as follows:
1. Comptroller General’s Department Initiatives
– Enhancing transparency in public infrastructure projects: The Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST) was introduced to strengthen transparency and public participation.
– Key approaches include: (1) requiring disclosure of project information at all stages with verification by an Assurance Team and translation into accessible formats; (2) organizing public consultations to gather local feedback and directly submit observations and concerns to project owners; and (3) developing the COST Thailand website and social media platforms as key channels for disclosure in line with international standards and creating public awareness.
2. Development of Open Procurement Data Systems
– The initiative to improve open data on public procurement was introduced to enhance accessibility for citizens and oversight agencies for greater convenience and speed.
– Key approaches include: (1) upgrading the e-GP system for more user-friendly and comprehensive search functions on the website; (2) aligning procurement data integration with the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) to enable diverse and rapid data access for external agencies and citizens; and (3) improving procurement data integration services to better serve external organizations.
3. Alignment with OGP Standards and Implementation Challenges
– Both initiatives emphasize a multi-stakeholder working approach, integrating collaboration across public, private, and civil society sectors to promote a culture of transparency and accountability.
– Procurement data disclosure is currently being aligned with OCDS across all stages—from planning and bidding to contracting and delivery—facilitating improved transparency and data analysis.
Next Step: The Comptroller General’s Department will refine project details in the OGP template for submission to OPDC and include it in Thailand’s draft National Action Plan (NAP) for 2027–2030, to further advance open government in line with OGP standards.
