Commerce Ministry Set to Name New Permanent Secretary

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthathummaphan is preparing to submit a proposal to the cabinet on August 5, 2026, to appoint a new high-level administrator from the Commerce Ministry to fill the position of Permanent Secretary after current holder Wutthikrai Livireraphan retires on September 30, 2026. The leading candidates are Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, and Ormon Saithwithorn, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property. Poonpong has distinguished himself by championing the "Thai Help Thai" initiative to reduce prices of essential goods, which became a cornerstone of government policy to ease cost-of-living pressures during the Middle East conflict. He has also led efforts to combat nominee problems through systems to prevent nominee business registration, coordinate enforcement with related agencies, upgrade corporate registration systems, and strengthen various business sectors. Ormon has overseen intellectual property operations including streamlining patent and trademark registration, promoting geographical indication products, assisting SMEs in leveraging intellectual property as capital, fostering research and innovation, protecting intellectual property rights against counterfeits, and supporting Thai entrepreneurs facing IP violations abroad. The cabinet is expected to consider only one nomination, with multiple sources predicting Poonpong will be proposed as the new Permanent Secretary. Separate cabinet consideration is anticipated for other level-10 appointments to replace retiring officials, with rumors suggesting Varawut Somwang, Commerce Ministry Inspector-General, may be proposed as Director-General of the International Trade Promotion Department; Kanicha Nonchuy or Watthanasakul Seua-ia, heads of inspection offices, or Chakka Yodmani, Deputy Permanent Secretary, as Director-General of the Domestic Trade Department to replace incumbent Withayakorn Moonenet, whose management of cost-of-living and energy price issues has not satisfied Deputy PM Supachai; and potential reshuffling of positions within the ministry hierarchy.