DGA Hosts International Open Data Day 2025 – Highlighting Government Transparency through the Power of Open Data
The Digital Government Development Agency (Public Organization), or DGA, through the Data Innovation and Governance Institute (DIGI), organizes International Open Data Day 2025 under the theme “Empowering Public Clarity with Open Data”
The event aimed to showcase Thailand’s progress in advancing open data initiatives and to create a platform for knowledge exchange in the field of open data. The event was presided over by Dr. Nahathai Thiwphaingam, Vice Minister for Office of the Prime Minister, on March 6, 2025, at the Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Thailand Institute of Justice (Public Organization), Bangkok.
Dr. Nahathai Thiwphaingam, Vice Minister for Office of the Prime Minister stated that, today, data is a crucial driving factor for the public sector to achieve its goals in the digital age. Data serves as the foundation for policy decision-making, performance monitoring, and innovation creation that benefits society. These efforts move toward a data-driven government, which is key to sustainable development across economic, social, and quality-of-life dimensions.
However, to maximize the benefit of data, it must be managed based on data governance principles, focusing on accuracy, transparency, and efficient accessibility. For this reason, the public, private, and civil sectors must collaborate to develop data infrastructure, build mutual understanding, and promote open data usage in a way that delivers tangible outcomes. This would elevate both the quality of public services and administrative efficiency.
Mrs. Airada Luangvilai, Senior Executive Vice President and Acting President & CEO of the Digital Government Development Agency (Public Organization) (DGA), further stated that countries around the world organize International Open Data Day each year to promote and emphasize the importance of disclosing government data. For 2025, DGA hosted Thailand’s International Open Data Day under the theme “Empowering Public Clarity with Open Data” to demonstrate how digital technology can strengthen transparency in government through data disclosure. This allows the public to access, understand, and audit government operations effectively. The event also offered an opportunity to utilize open data to develop innovations that benefit the economy and society.
To demonstrate the government’s readiness in promoting open data, a ceremony was also held to present the “Open Data Awards” to organizations that published datasets on the Government Open Data Center (data.go.th). A total of 26 awards were presented, including:
1. Most Popular Open Data Award (3 awards):
Awarded to organizations whose datasets received the highest popularity:
Hydro-Informatics Institute (Public Organization)
Chonburi Provincial Office
Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP)
2. Top Public Demand Open Data Award (21 awards):
Recognizing datasets that best meet public demand.
National-level agencies awarded a plaque:
Department of Children and Youth
Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development
National Statistical Office
National-level agencies awarded a certificate:
Department of Disease Control
Legal Execution Department
Department of Livestock Development
Land Development Department
Department of Cultural Promotion
Thai Health Promotion Foundation
Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning
Energy Policy and Planning Office
Provincial-level agencies awarded a plaque:
Narathiwat Provincial Office
Maha Sarakham Provincial Office
Saraburi Provincial Office
Provincial-level agencies awarded a certificate:
Kanchanaburi Provincial Office
Kalasin Provincial Office
Chaiyaphum Provincial Office
Pathum Thani Provincial Office
Loei Provincial Office
Sisaket Provincial Office
Suphan Buri Provincial Office
3. Local Government Open Data Excellence Award (1 award):
Umong Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang District, Lamphun Province
4. Best Practice Open Data Project Award (1 award):
Comptroller General’s Department
DIGI Data Camp Season 3 Awards (5 awards):
These awards recognize organizations that have enhanced their data literacy and capabilities to drive data-driven transformation and foster innovation from open data:
First Prize: Thailand Post Co., Ltd.
Project: “How to Deliver with Low Carbon?”
1st Runner-up: Bo Thai Subdistrict Municipality
Project: “As Thailand Enters the Century of Aging Society”
2nd Runner-up: Department of Agricultural Extension
Project: “Thai Farmers, Burning, and the Tiny Things Called PM 2.5”
3rd Runner-up: Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS)
Project: “Fact Checking – Verifying Fake News, Filtering the Real Ones”
Popular Vote: Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)
Project: “Decarbon for Credit”
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony was held for the development of a National Open Housing Data initiative, under the “Housing for All” project. This collaboration involves four partner organizations: the Program Management Unit on Area-Based Development (PMU-A) under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; the Digital Government Development Agency (Public Organization); the National Housing Authority; and the Urban Studies Institute Foundation.
The project focuses on developing a comprehensive and modern open housing database system, which will be integrated and published through the Government Open Data Center (data.go.th). This aims to enable all sectors to utilize the data for analysis, evaluation, and forecasting of national housing trends. The goal is to inform suitable policy-making at both local and national levels, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 11, by supporting innovation and sustainable housing planning across the country.
Government agencies, private sector entities, software developers, students, and anyone interested in learning how to use government open data for innovative purposes can follow updates via the Facebook page: Data Innovation and Governance Institute, DIGI.