The Digital Economy and Society Ministry will be officially established in September, replacing the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry.
The new ministry will take over all responsibilities from the ICT Ministry, the National Statistics Office, the Thai Meteorological Department, the Software Industry Promotion Agency, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency, Thailand Post, TOT Plc and CAT Telecom.
The National Disaster Warning Center, which is under the supervision of the ICT Ministry, is the only agency that will be transferred to the Interior Ministry.
The new ministry will have the administrative scope to plan, promote, develop and implement activities related to a digital society and economy.
ICT Minister Uttama Savanayana said the new ministry will have a new administrative scope and conceptual framework for implementing, developing and promoting Thailand's digital economy and society.
The new ministry will set up two new ministerial agencies: the National Digital Economy Committee and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency, to take responsibility for development of the digital economy.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will chair the National Digital Economy Committee.
Mr Uttama said he will have to resign from his position as ICT Minister once the new ministry officially begins its work in September. The government will appoint the country's first minister of Digital Economy and Society.
Permanent secretary Songporn Komolsuradej, however, will stay on as permanent secretary of the new ministry to aid in the transition.
Mr Uttama said the ICT Ministry is on the verge of transforming its administrative implementation structures. An official name for the new ministry has not yet been settled on.
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) last Friday unanimously approved the bill with 122 votes for the establishment of a new digital ministry aimed at increasing the country's economic potential and social development.
The legislation to establish the new ministry was one of eight draft bills needing NLA approval in order to implement the country's digital economy roadmap.
The private sector has urged government agencies to facilitate the cohesive implementation of the digital economy policy, as well as speed up the restructuring of government agencies and personnel to allow the new ministry to function efficiently and effectively.
It further wants to see the telecom regulator work towards promoting the private sector's participation in digital economy development so as to ensure the roadmap is followed.