Bangkok: The Cabinet has approved the appointment of Poonpong Naiyanapakorn as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. This decision marks a significant change in the ministry's leadership as Poonpong, who has been serving as the Director-General of the Department of Business Development, will take over from Mr. Wutikrai Leewiraphan, who is set to retire in September.

According to Thai News Agency, the Cabinet's decision, announced on August 5, 2026, highlights Poonpong's extensive experience in business registration, promotion, and development. His career has been rooted in enhancing commercial registration and fostering business growth across multiple sectors, including retail, wholesale, small businesses, franchises, logistics, and online commerce. Before his role as Director-General, Poonpong served in various capacities, such as Deputy Director-General, Inspector-General, Deputy Permanent Secretary, and Director of the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy (OTPS).

Poonpong's current initiatives focus on mitigating the impact of rising living costs through the "Thai Helps Thai" project, which aims to lower essential goods prices. This project has been pivotal in shaping several government policies. Additionally, Poonpong is tackling the "nominee" issue by advancing systems to prevent unauthorized legal entity registrations and collaborating with agencies to suppress such activities. He is also working on enhancing the legal entity registration system and linking data with various agencies to fortify the business sector.