Bangkok: Suphajee Suthumpun has expressed her readiness to accept the role of Minister of Commerce in the Anutin government, aiming to utilize her experience to benefit Thailand's economy during her brief tenure. She acknowledges the economic challenges facing the country and emphasizes the necessity for government collaboration to tackle these issues.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Suphajee, the prospective Commerce Minister, detailed her reasons for accepting the position under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's government. She noted Thailand's internal and external economic challenges and expressed her willingness to contribute positively using her experience. With the government's term expected to last only four months before Parliament's dissolution for new elections, she plans to focus on maximizing benefits within this limited timeframe.
Suphajee highlighted the Ministry of Commerce's dual focus on domestic and international matters and stressed the importance of aligning with the overall government policy. Given the short time frame, she emphasized the need for ministers to work in unison toward achieving swift results. She outlined the process of drafting policies rapidly for Cabinet submission after receiving royal endorsement, which will guide how the Ministry can support the Cabinet's key policies.
On matters such as US tariff negotiations and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Suphajee stated these cannot be handled solely by the Ministry of Commerce but require the entire economic team's effort, led by Prime Minister Anutin. Collaborative discussions are crucial to determine negotiation strategies that maximize benefits.
Addressing economic challenges in the latter half of the year, Suphajee acknowledged global and regional conflicts impacting the Thai economy. She emphasized the need for inter-ministerial cooperation to navigate these challenges effectively within a short period.
Regarding GDP growth projections for 2025, the Governor of the Bank of Thailand mentioned a potential growth of more than 2% for the year. However, economic volatility makes predictions difficult, with estimates ranging between 1% and 2%. Suphajee stressed the importance of focusing on Thailand's strengths and prioritizing issues to ensure swift economic improvements.