Thailand triumphs in UN Human Rights council bid

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Private sector hopes for a non-political central bank governor

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The private sector has expressed its hope to see a new governor of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) to be impartial and free from political influence.

Chief Advisor to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Board of Directors, Santi Vilassakdanont, stressed that the new BoT governor, now under selection, must not take side because he/she must take care of the whole monetary system of the nation, similar to central bank governors of other countries who are free from politics.

Mr Santi, also former FTI chairperson, said the new BoT governor must be able to maintain balanced relationship in the currency exchange, economic condition and inflation.

According to him, the governor must see to it that the baht is neither too weak nor too strong to keep balance for both importers and exporters alike.

Mr Santi also complimented outgoing BoT Governor, Dr Tarisa Watanagase, for her competency in taking care of the economy and currency exchanges. He said the banking sector had made outstanding improvement, lending strength to the country’s economic foundation.

The FTI chief advisor voiced his confidence in the qualifications and experience possessed by all the four candidates running for the post as they all used to work in the BoT.

Four candidates for the post are Deputy BoT Governor for Monetary Stability Bandid Nijathaworn, Kasikorn Bank Executive Director Prasarn Trairatvorakul, Security and Exchange Commission Secretary-General Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, and former Deputy Finance Minister Pisit Lee-artham.

-- NNT 2010-07-05