Designated Director-General
of the World Trade Organization
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| ศุภชัย
พานิชภักดิ์ Dr.Supachai Panitchpakdi
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ส.ส.สมัยแรก เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ -ประถมาภรณ์ช้างเผือก In 1973, Dr Supachai completed his doctoral dissertation on Human Resource Planning and Development under supervision of Professor Jan Tinbergen - the first Nobel laureate in economics. His dissertation was subsequently published under the title Educational Planning and Growth in Developing Countries by Rotterdam Press and widely used by universities in Europe. He was later accepted as a visiting Fellow at Cambridge University in 1973, conducting his research work on development models. Dr. Supachai began his professional career at the Bank of Thailand in 1974. Initially, he worked in the Research Department. Later, he moved to other divisions, including the International Finance Division and the Financial Institutions Supervision Department. During his tenure at the BOT, which lasted until 1986, his expertise on economics and financial matters was widely recognized by the public. Dr. Supachai acted as spokesman for the ROT for a brief period. He was a principal figure in devising measures to bail out troubled financial institutions in the early 1980s and was instrumental in the BOT's tight control on the public sector's external borrowings as well as the passage of legislation aimed at abolishing non-formal and illegal financial institutions in the system. In 1986, Dr. Supachai relinquished his post as the Director of the Financial Institutions Supervision Department to run for Parliament. With his notable track record at the BOT and his successful campaign, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance. During his first political term, his achievements included the introduction of the value-added tax system, laying down the foundation for the establishment of the country's Export-Import Bank and improving channels to utilize state enterprises' funds for the government. He also helped devise strong fiscal disciplines which subsequently led to a continuing series of budget surpluses, thus enabling Thailand to achieve a high economic growth rate for many years. After dissolution of Parliament in 1988, Dr. Supachai was appointed Director and Advisor, and subsequently President, of the Thai Military Bank. As bank president, he vigorously promoted its overseas expansion. His involvement in the business sector deepened through his chairmanship of several corporations. At the same time, he maintained his contacts in academic circles through his contribution to a number of universities. This period enabled Dr. Supachai to display his flair in management in both the private and the public sectors. In 1992, he was appointed Senator and led a sub-committee to draw up Thailand's Seventh National Economic and Social Development Plan (1992-1996). Returning to politics in 1992, Dr. Supachai became Deputy Prime Minister entrusted with the major responsibilities of overseeing the country's economic and trade policy making. He supervised key economic offices, including the Budget Bureau, the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. In the process, he set policy directives on macro-economic management for the country. His performance and stature as a leading Cabinet member earned him wider public recognition, confidence and trust in his professional competence and integrity. He held the position of Deputy Prime Minister until 1995. During this period, he began active involvement in international trading policies. Dr. Supachai has always been a staunch supporter of free and fair trade. As Deputy Prime Minister, he played a pivotal role in the international arena, principally the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) efforts to liberalise trade in the region through what has become the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). His active participation in ASEAN regional activities helped forge closer relationships between member countries and enhanced their position as a unified economic grouping with a strong voice in international negotiations. As chairman of Thailand's International Economic Policy Committee, Dr. Supachai was highly influential in charting the country's international trade and economic policies to better cope with the world's fast-changing environment. In 1993, he convinced the public and the private sectors of the need for Thailand to accept the Uruguay Round package and consequently helped steer its ratification through Parliament. Dr. Supachai represented Thailand at the signing ceremony of the Uruguay Round Agreement in Marrakesh and he has ensured that the government fully and faithfully implement its obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO). He closely followed developments in WTO matters even when he did not hold public office and he has regularly been invited to participate in the annual World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, Switzerland. On the wider regional and inter-regional stage, Dr. Supachai has played instrumental roles as initiator and active supporter of numerous trade and investment facilitating fora, groupings and development projects. He was also instrumental in the conceptualization of the New Zealand government-sponsored Asia 2000 project, of which he is Honorary Advisor. Dr. Supachai has made significant contributions to the Emerging Asia Project of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in commemorating the Bank's 30" anniversary and he has been named to the project's Advisory Board. Dr. Supachai was the first to push for the formation of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) that draws together heads of governments from Asia and Europe to foster closer ties between the nations of the two continents. Dr. Supachai first proposed the formation of ASEM at the East Asia Economic Forum in Singapore in 1992. He was also the initiator in the BIMST-EC consultative group that links countries in South and Southeast Asia, namely Bangladesh; India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. His contributions to the grouping are well recognized. He was co-founder of the ASEAN-Japan working group, along with former Prime Minister Ryotaro Hashimoto of Japan. Following the change of government in November 1997 in the wake of Thailand's financial crisis, Dr. Supachai was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic policies, and Minister of Commerce. In his capacity as Minister of Commerce, Dr. Supachai is relaxing Thailand's restrictions on foreign participation and ownership and thoroughly revising the Alien Business Law. He is also bringing the country's accounting standards into line with international practices to enhance and ensure transparency in the economic system. Dr. Supachai's strong convictions in the benefits of liberal trading regimes remains unchanged, even in the face of the present economic crisis. Given his academic background, his past achievements and his vision for the future, he features prominently as one of Thailand's brightest and most promising leaders. Dr. Supachai is married to Mrs. Sasai, with a son and a daughter |
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