Mingkwan Saengsuwan (Thai: มิ่งขวัญ แสงสุวรรณ์, born 5 February 1952) is a Thai politician. In 2008, he served as Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and as Minister of Commerce.[1][2]

Mingkwan Saengsuwan
มิ่งขวัญ แสงสุวรรณ์
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
9 February 2008 – 9 September 2008
Prime MinisterSamak Sundaravej
Minister of Industry
In office
2 August 2008 – 9 September 2008
Prime MinisterSamak Sundaravej
Preceded bySuwit Khunkitti
Succeeded byPracha Promnok
Minister of Commerce
In office
6 February 2008 – 2 August 2008
Prime MinisterSamak Sundaravej
Preceded byKrirkkrai Jirapaet
Succeeded byChaiya Sasomsap
Personal details
Born (1952-02-05) 5 February 1952 (age 72)
Bangkok, Thailand
Political partyPalang Pracharath Party
Other political
affiliations
Pheu Thai Party (until 2013)
New Economics Party (2019-2022)
Okas Thai (2022)
Alma materChulalongkorn University
University of Pennsylvania

Early life and education

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Mingkwan was born on 5 February 1952 in Bangkok, but grew up in the northern region, Chiang Rai. He is the youngest child Of the three siblings, he graduated high school from Wat Nuannoradit School. He received a bachelor's degree in law from Chulalongkorn University and a certificate in Executive Development Program from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, United States.

He started working as a salesperson with Toyota Motors Thailand Co., Ltd. later moved up to the marketing department. It is said that Mingkwan is the only employee among the 70,000 employees of the entire Toyota Group that can skip from department manager immediately become a director without being in accordance with Japanese administrative customs is arranged in order of seniority and job class.[3]

Later, during the Thaksin Shinawatra government, Mingkwan had the opportunity to help Somkid Jatusripitak Deputy Prime Minister in Economic Affairs and the Minister of Finance at that time by being a consultant about tourism.

Mingkwan was chosen to hold office Director of the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand (MCOT) by starting work from the reform Thai color TV station, Channel 9, from the old era has become a modern television station in the name of Modern Nine TV until leading to privatization MCOT from government organizations became a state-owned public broadcaster. Mingkwan was one of those who resisted the 2006 Thai coup d'état under the direction of Prime Minister Thaksin by helping Thaksin issue a declaration of state emergency in Bangkok via long-distance mobile phone from abroad broadcast on MCOT.[4][5]

Political careers

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In 2007, the People's Power Party approach him to be Head of the Party's Economic Working Group and on 6 February 2008, Mingkwan took office as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Commerce in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. Then Mingkwan joined and served as head of the New Economics Party to apply for a 2019 Thai general election.[6]

He is also a former leader of the New Economics Party.[7][8] On 8 June 2022, Mingkwan formed a new party called Okas Thai (Thai Opportunity).[9]

On 6 December 2022, he launched with the Palang Pracharath Party as the head of the economic policy team, and is one of the candidates for Prime Minister from the party's nomination in the general elections in early 2023 as well.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "US Business Leaders Meet Thai Prime Minister and Economic Team". US-ASEAN Business Council. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Thai prime minister announces Cabinet reshuffle". Taiwan News. 3 August 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. ^ เปิดประวัติ “มิ่งขวัญ แสงสุวรรณ์” บนเวทีการเมืองอันยาวนาน
  4. ^ Mingkwan's chance for return slim - PressReader
  5. ^ Executives of Thai leading media group resign en masse
  6. ^ NEP stance leaves Mingkwan in cold
  7. ^ "Mingkwan quits as New Economics party leader". Thai PBS World. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Mingkwan denies NEP rift over vote". Bangkok Post. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Mingkwan eyes new party". Bangkok Post.
  10. ^ Voice TV (2022-12-06). "LIVE! พรรคพลังประชารัฐเปิดตัว นายมิ่งขวัญ แสงสุวรรณ์ ในฐานะสมาชิกพรรคคนใหม่" [LIVE! Palang Pracharath Party launched Mingkwan Saengsuwan as the new party member]. YouTube (in Thai). Retrieved 2022-12-06.