Srettha Thavisin

Srettha Thavisin
เศรษฐา ทวีสิน
Srettha in 2023
30th Prime Minister of Thailand
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 August 2023
Monarch	Vajiralongkorn
Deputy	See list Phumtham Wechayachai Somsak Thepsuthin Anutin Charnvirakul Patcharawat Wongsuwon Pirapan Salirathavibhaga Suriya Juangroongruangkit Pichai Chunhavajira
Preceded by	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Minister of Finance
In office 1 September 2023 – 27 April 2024
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Arkhom Termpittayapaisith
Succeeded by	Pichai Chunhavajira
Personal details
Born	(1962-02-15) 15 February 1962 (age 62) Bangkok, Thailand
Political party	Pheu Thai (since 2022)
Spouse	Pakpilai Paladraksa ​ (m. 1989)​
Children	Naphat Warat Chananda
Residence(s)	Government House, Bangkok
Education	Chulalongkorn University (BS) University of Massachusetts Amherst (BA) Claremont Graduate University (MBA)
Occupation	Businessman Politician
Profession	Marketing manager
Signature
Srettha Thavisin's voice Srettha talks about the digital wallet scheme Recorded 15 November 2023

Srettha Thavisin (Thai: เศรษฐา ทวีสิน, RTGS: Settha Thawisin, Thai pronunciation: [sèːt.tʰǎː tʰā.wīː.sǐn] ^ⓘ; born 15 February 1962), nicknamed Nid (Thai: นิด, RTGS: Nit, pronounced [nít]), is a Thai businessman and politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Thailand since 22 August 2023.^[1] He was previously the chief executive and president of Sansiri.^[2]

Srettha, originally from Bangkok, pursued a degree in Civil Engineering after high school. He furthered his education in the United States, where he obtained Master's degree in business administration. Following his academic pursuits, he embarked on a professional journey that started with a four-year tenure as an assistant product manager. In 1998, he co-founded Sansiri, a venture that propelled him to become a billionaire and a leading real estate tycoon in his country.^[3] Under his leadership, Sansiri experienced growth, even during challenging periods such as the pandemic. This growth phase of his business career came to a close when he decided to transition into politics, a move that involved transferring all his shares in the company. This decision marked a significant shift from his business endeavours to a focus on political engagement.

Prior to the 2014 coup, Srettha had connections with two Thai Prime Ministers from the Shinawatra family. In late 2022, he announced his intention to join the Pheu Thai Party and was subsequently considered one of its prime ministerial candidates. He played a pivotal role in leading the party to form a coalition government, following an unsuccessful attempt by the Move Forward Party. Consequently, the parliament elected him as the prime minister. Notably, his coalition government included two parties that were linked to the coup in 2014.

Srettha's tenure as Prime Minister has encompassed a range of domestic and international initiatives. On the domestic front, his administration has prioritized agricultural productivity, stimulating economic recovery, developing infrastructure, revitalizing tourism, education reforms, and implementing a digital wallet scheme that has sparked debate. Additionally, the government has actively engaged in the electric vehicle sector, the regulation of cannabis, and gun control measures. In the realm of international relations, Srettha's approach has been proactive in attracting foreign investments. This includes exploratory discussions with prominent business figures like Elon Musk regarding Tesla's potential involvement in Thailand's electric vehicle industry. His foreign policy strategy also involves navigating Thailand's stance in global conflicts and actively participating in international platforms such as the United Nations Human Rights Council. Under his leadership, Thailand has demonstrated a dedication to sustainable development and addressing climate change challenges. During his premiership, he was criticised by media and the opposition as a "puppet prime minister", under the control of the power behind the throne such as Thaksin Shinawatra,^[4] the military,^[5] and Pheu Thai Party.^[6]