Corruption has become entrenched in Thailand because of over-familiarity with traditional ways of dealing with state agencies, say high-ranking officials.
Bandid Nijathaworn, president and chief executive of the Thai Institute of Directors (IOD), said solving the Thai corruption puzzle will require the public and private sectors to collaborate.
"Thai society sees corrupt processes as part of the working process," he said.
"Not as a temporary, but as a permanent fixture of important processes involving state and private actors, like bidding processes and government projects."
The IOD and Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) will try to encourage the private sector to join in the anti-graft battle and comply with internal audit standards, Mr Bandid said.
The CAC aims to implement effective anti-corruption policies and mechanisms by ordering companies to create a clean business ecosystem.
The coalition was co-founded by eight of the country's most influential private-sector players including the IOD, which serves in a secretarial capacity and plays a leading role in the programme. The CAC's operations are mainly sponsored by the US-based Center for International Private Enterprise.
The CAC certifies companies whose anti-corruption policies and compliance standards have been externally verified and are in compliance with CAC criteria.
Its unique certification process makes it one of the world's most advanced collective action efforts by the private sector. Many countries have reportedly studied and sought guidance from the CAC.
Some 858 companies have signed up to be certified by the body, with many listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
As long as the private sector continues to show interest in the project, the IOD will keep offering the certification, officials said.
It also expects to relax the rules for small businesses next year.
In addition, the IOD plans to increase the number of state agency spots for customers to evaluate its working process from five to 50 or 60 by next year.
Both the IOD and the CAC said they will encourage certified companies to persuade other entities to join the project.
Voravan Tarapoom, chairwoman of the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations, said Thai investors should support good governance in companies by investing in those on the Environmental, Social And Governance list, as this group emphasises robust corporate governance and sustainable growth.
"Increasing law enforcement for fraud and corruption cases would increase business fairness at state agencies by promoting disclosure and transparency in big projects," Mrs Voravan said.
