Established administrator set to take over Commerce Ministry role
In a surprising turn of events, Jatuporn Buruspat, a seasoned bureaucrat with a distinguished career in Thailand's civil service, has been appointed as the Minister of Commerce in the Pheu Thai-led government. Buruspat, who previously served as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, is now poised to navigate the nation's economic challenges, under the leadership of Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin.
Before his recent cabinet appointment, Buruspat's political background was largely defined by his long and prominent career in Thailand's civil service. He had served as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment since 2019, a position he held after leading nearly every key agency under the ministry and holding board positions at several state organizations. These included the Forest Industry Organisation, the Highland Research and Development Institute, the Bioeconomy Development Office, and the Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation. Buruspat also chaired the corporate governance and sustainability committee at PTT, Thailand’s state majority-owned oil and gas company.
Buruspat's formal entry into national politics came in mid-2025, when he resigned early from his civil service term to join the New Opportunity Party, reportedly with strong backing from influential figures in the energy sector. The New Opportunity Party, led by Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin, claims the support of about 20 MPs previously aligned with the United Thai Nation party. At the time of Buruspat’s appointment, New Opportunity held no parliamentary seats but was preparing to enter politics more actively by the next general election.
On his final day at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, hundreds of officials gathered to bid farewell to Buruspat. Marine-patrol officers formed an impromptu honor guard as his car left the ministry, and many officials offered flowers and garlands to him as he departed the compound. Buruspat told reporters he felt no pressure in switching to another ministry because "everything I have done is for the people's benefit."
Buruspat's departure from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has initiated a scramble for succession in the top post. Four department heads are contenders for the position: Attapon Charoenchansa, Pinsak Suraswadi, Bhadol Thavornkitcharat, and Phirun Saiyasitpanich. Raweewan Bhuridej, secretary-general of the National Land Policy Board and former chief of the environmental planning office, is considered a dark-horse candidate for the top post.
As the Minister of Commerce, Buruspat's immediate priority is to tackle depressed crop prices, starting with a field visit to Nakhon Si Thammarat province. His extensive experience in environment, natural resources, and state enterprise governance, coupled with his commitment to public service, promises to bring a unique perspective to the challenges facing Thailand's economy.
Buruspat's career shift from the civil service to national politics underscores a significant moment in the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, as he joins the New Opportunity Party and is appointed as the Minister of Commerce, setting his sights on career-development and addressing economic challenges such as depressed crop prices. His leadership in education-and-self-development, evidenced by his prominent role in agencies like the Forest Industry Organisation and the Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation, may also contribute to shaping general-news and future policy-and-legislation in the commerce sector.
