New Thai central bank governor to be named soon

BANGKOK, June 19 (TNA) — Four candidates have applied for the post of governor of the Bank of Thailand (BoT), to succeed Tarisa Watanagase who will retire at the mandatory retirement age of 60 at the end of September, and at least two out of four names will be forwarded to Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij for his final selection.

His selection will then be submitted to the Cabinet for formal approval.

The four candidates are former deputy finance minister Pisit Leeatham, deputy BoT governor Bandid Nijathaworn, secretary-general Theerachai Puvanartnaranubal of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Thai Bankers Association chairman Prasarn Trairatvorakul who is also president of Kasikorn Bank.

Mr Korn said all four candidates are efficient and capable of handling the BoT governorship and, according to regulations, a selection committee must give him at least two of the four names for him to consider. After he deciding, he gives the name of the new governor to the Cabinet for its final consideration.

Reliable sources said it is expected that the name of the new BoT governor would be known Thursday.

Satit Rungkasiri, director-general of Fiscal Policy Office, meanwhile, said the finance minister has one month to make his decision. The new governor will be royally-appointed and the candidate’s names should be known within July.

Mr Satit is also a member of the selection committee. (TNA)