Selecting new BoT chief a difficult task, says finance minister

BANGKOK, June 22 (TNA) – Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij on Monday said the committee tasked to select the new governor of the Bank of  Thailand is finding it difficult to make a decision because each candidate for the position is a senior and veteran person in the money and capital markets.

He said the committee submitted its report regarding initial data on the selection last Friday.

In the next step, each candidate would be asked to express his/her vision on the current economic situation and opinions about the master financial-sector development plan.

“The committee members concede it is very hard for them to select the most suitable person because each candidate is a senior person with much experience in the money and capital markets.

“It is expected the selection result will be released next month,” the finance minister said.

“Now, I don’t want to talk much about the selection. Let’s wait and see the result when the Cabinet meets and considers it,” he said.

A source said there are four strong candidates competing for the central bank governorship: Kasikornbank president Prasarn Trairattanaworakul, former deputy finance minister Pisit Lee-artham, Securities and Exchange Commission secretary-general Theerachai Puvanartnaranubal, and Mr Bandid, who is the deputy BoT governor overseeing financial stability. (TNA)