Commerce Ministry Personnel Transfers and morale

Thansettakij•Economy•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Poonpong Naiyanapakorn addresses concerns regarding the recent transfer of high-level officials within the Ministry of Commerce.

•Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, the Director-General of the Department of Business Development and Permanent Secretary-designate of the Ministry of Commerce, clarified high-level personnel transfers on September 15, 2026.
•The transfers were conducted following a consultation between the current Permanent Secretary and the Permanent Secretary-designate as assigned by the Minister of Commerce.
•Poonpong Naiyanapakorn denied that the reshuffle caused a loss of morale among civil servants, stating that external opinions are not representative of all officials.

•The Minister of Commerce assigned the current Permanent Secretary and Poonpong Naiyanapakorn to select suitable candidates for high-level transfers.
•Official Level 10 positions, including Director-Generals, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, and Inspectors General, receive equal benefits and compensation.
•The transfer of the Thai Permanent Representative to the WTO and WIPO in Geneva occurred because the incumbent completed a 6-year term, consisting of a 4-year term and two 1-year extensions.
•Personnel transfers were processed before the February deadline to align with the Cabinet proposal and royal appointment timeline.
•Pimchanok Pitfield intended to resign to care for her elderly mother after not being selected for the DGD position in Geneva.
•Oramon Supthaweetham, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, was moved to Inspector General because she declined a proposed appointment as Thai Permanent Representative to the WTO and WIPO in Geneva.
•Poonpong Naiyanapakorn acknowledged that while Inspectors General have fewer resources and staff than Director-Generals, they can provide specialized support based on their expertise.
•Poonpong Naiyanapakorn asserted that all decisions were based on the best interests of the Ministry of Commerce and denied any bullying of personnel.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Poonpong Naiyanapakorn

"When deciding something, we should not decide it ourselves; we should let a neutral party or someone not involved make the decision."

เวลาจะตัดสินอะไร เราไม่ควรตัดสินเอง ควรให้คนกลางหรือคนที่ไม่มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องมาตัดสิน

Poonpong Naiyanapakorn

"I can say with full confidence that I have never had bias; my duty is to work, work, and work."

ผมพูดได้อย่างเต็มปากเลยว่า ผมไม่เคยมีอคติ หน้าที่ผมคือทำงาน ทำงาน และทำงาน

Poonpong Naiyanapakorn(พูนพงษ์ นัยนาภากรณ์)

Director-General of the Department of Business Development and Permanent Secretary-designate of the Ministry of Commerce.

Pimchanok Pitfield(พิมพ์ชนก พิตฟิลด์)

An official who intended to resign to care for her mother after not being selected for a position in Geneva.

Oramon Supthaweetham(อรมน ทรัพย์ทวีธรรม)

Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property who was transferred to the position of Inspector General of the Ministry of Commerce.

Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)ℹ️

The government ministry overseeing trade and business development.

Department of Business Development(กรมพัฒนาธุรกิจการค้า)

A department under the Ministry of Commerce led by Poonpong Naiyanapakorn.

Department of Intellectual Property(กรมทรัพย์สินทางปัญญา)

A department under the Ministry of Commerce previously led by Oramon Supthaweetham.

World Trade Organization(องค์การการค้าโลก)ℹ️

An international organization referred to as WTO in the article.

World Intellectual Property Organization(องค์การทรัพย์สินทางปัญญาโลก)ℹ️

An international organization referred to as WIPO in the article.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The government body responsible for approving high-level appointments.

European Union(สหภาพยุโรป)ℹ️

A regional organization that the Ministry of Commerce conducts trade negotiations with.

Geneva(นครเจนีวา)ℹ️

The location of the Thai Permanent Representative to the WTO and WIPO.