Bangkok: Suchart emphasizes that the new Permanent Secretary is a Ministry native and will continue to manage state land. Suchart revealed that the Cabinet has approved the transfer of Rawiwan to the position of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The transfer is due to her completion of her term as Director of the National Environment Board (NEB). She is an important figure in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and is able to continue managing land issues under the Ministry’s responsibility, in line with the NEB’s One Map initiative.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, addressed the Cabinet’s decision to swap positions between Ms. Rawiwan Phuridet, Director-General of the National Land Commission Office (NLA), and Ms. Chayanan Phakdijit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. He stated that Ms. Rawiwan has completed her four-year term as NLA Director, with an extension of one year. Her appointment as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is appropriate, given her experience in the ministry prior to her appointment as NLA Director.

In addition, Ms. Rawiwan previously oversaw the allocation of agricultural land to communities and the One Map project, which integrated state land boundary map data into a single system nationwide. The goal was to address overlapping land boundaries and establish a single standard for state land management. As Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, she was able to align her management with the NBTC’s guidelines, which are key principles for managing state land, which is overlapping across multiple agencies.