The government is planning to invest 20.13 billion baht in 15 industries to help propel the economy.

Some of the industries include entertainment, software, tourism, education and food, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said on Thursday.

"With this investment, the industries' value will increase from 10 per cent of the GDP at 900 billion baht to 20 per cent at 1.8 trillion baht by 2012," Mr Alongkorn said.

He said the Commerce Ministry and the Culture Ministry had discussed plans to produce five movies with five private companies. Each movie would be given a budget of 100 million baht. There would be animated films and movies promoting Thai culture.

"The Commerce Ministry has approved various projects for 15 industries totalling 3.8 billion baht, and a special committee will be set up to examine them," he said.