Business operators, academics back junta chief as Thailand's interim PM

BANGKOK, August 21 (TNA) - Business operators and academics have thrown their support for Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha for becoming Thailand’s 29th prime minister, saying his appointment should create national stability and restore confidence in the Thai economy among international investors. Pornsil Patchrintanakul, Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said on Thursday that the selection of General Prayuth as the interim prime minister is considered the “most appropriate” for the domestic political situation currently. Pornsil suggested the most urgent problem needed to be solved during the second half of this year is to spur the national economic recovery through boosting Thai exports, private investment and consumers’ confidence. Aat Pisanwanich, Director of the Centre for International Trade Studies, under Bangkok-based University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that the NCPO has successfully solved domestic political, economic and social problems over the past three months and the interim prime minister, who is also the NCPO chief, is expected to also solve all the remaining cruxes. Aat recommended that the junta chief stay as the interim prime minister more than one year to solve the pending problems. Wallop Wittanakorn, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, noted that the private sector wants the interim prime minister to also solve the corruption problem and provide assistance to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by making the issues the national agenda. Wallop acknowledged that past domestic political problems have slowed down domestic investment, expressing his hope that reform plans drawn by the NCPO should move the country forward within a year from now. Permanent Secretary for Finance Rangsan Sriworasart opined, meanwhile, that it is better to wait who will be appointed economic-related ministers in the new Thai Cabinet, stating if knowledgeable persons are appointed to the posts, they will help drive the national economy forward and simultaneously restore international investors' confidence. (TNA)