Three Experts Join Thailand Data Center Policy Board
Prime Minister Anuthin Charnvirakul appointed three expert advisors to Thailand's Data Center Business Policy Committee on September 7, bringing the board to 21 members tasked with formulating data center policies and investment standards.
On September 7, Prime Minister Anuthin Charnvirakul signed Prime Minister's Order 725/2569 appointing three expert advisors to the Data Center Business Policy Committee. Under the 2569 regulations governing the committee, a deputy prime minister designated by the premier serves as chair, with up to three expert advisors appointed by the premier.
The three appointees are Choti Trachu, former Permanent Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment; Supoj Techwarsinsukul, former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University; and Theer Chiasiripongsakul, Deputy Rector for Administration at Thammasat University's Rangsit Center. Their terms began September 3. The appointment was reported at a committee meeting on September 4, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, with Supoj and Theer in attendance; Choti was unable to attend due to prior commitments. Expert advisors serve two-year terms and may hold office no more than twice.
With the new appointees, the data center policy board now comprises 21 members: three vice chairs (the Ministers of Digital Economy and Society, Interior, and Energy); fourteen members by position including permanent secretaries from Finance, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy, Interior, Digital Economy and Society, and Industry, plus the heads of the Board of Investment, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, the Thailand Science and Technology Development Agency, and the National Economic and Social Development Council; and four expert advisors.
The committee's authority includes proposing policies, standards, and implementation frameworks to the Cabinet for approving or licensing data center projects and investment promotion cards; studying, analyzing, monitoring, and assessing impacts of data center operations; and submitting findings to the Cabinet. Project approvals must consider overall economic benefits, clean energy use, energy security and pricing, fair resource allocation, electrical and water efficiency, urban planning, public safety including fire prevention, environmental protection, community welfare, carbon neutrality goals, and data sovereignty. When state agencies encounter obstacles in implementing Cabinet resolutions, they must report to the committee for review and Cabinet recommendation. Once the Cabinet endorses any approach, responsible agencies must implement it and report progress to the committee every three months.
