Kobsak Pootrakool
Kobsak Pootrakool | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 23, 1968 Thailand |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, politician |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Known for | Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (Thailand) |
Kobsak Pootrakool (; born 23 August 1968) is a Thai economist who previously held political office. He was appointed Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister during the initial cabinet led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Prior to his political tenure, Kobsak built his career at the Bank of Thailand and later at Bangkok Bank.
Education
Supported by a scholarship from the Bank of Thailand, Kobsak pursued higher education in the United States. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and economics from Williams College in 1991, followed by a doctorate in macroeconomics and international economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1997.
Professional career
Kobsak dedicated fourteen years to the Bank of Thailand, specializing in policies related to monetary affairs and financial institutions. Between 2008 and 2009, he served as executive director at the Stock Exchange of Thailand's Research Institute for Capital Market Development. In 2010, he transitioned from the central bank to take on a role at Bangkok Bank, where his focus shifted to international banking operations.
Political career
After the 2014 military coup, Kobsak was brought onto the Constitution Drafting Committee as a replacement following a resignation. The initial draft produced by this committee was rejected in 2015; however, a subsequent constitution was ratified in 2016. Soon after this approval, he was appointed vice minister for the Office of the Prime Minister under Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, with responsibilities including economic affairs oversight. He also became part of the National Economic Reform Committee and was elevated to Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister on 23 November 2017.
In 2018, Kobsak assumed the role of spokesperson for the newly established Palang Pracharath Party, which was preparing for participation in the 2019 general election. Despite criticism directed at the party for having four active ministers holding executive positions simultaneously, Kobsak asserted that there would be no abuse of authority. On 29 January 2019, all four ministers resigned their cabinet posts to dedicate themselves fully to election campaigning.
The election concluded with a coalition government led by Palang Pracharath and Prime Minister Prayut continuing in office. Instead of joining the new cabinet, Kobsak was appointed deputy secretary-general to the prime minister. In 2020, amid internal party developments favoring military-aligned groups, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid and his economic team, including Kobsak, stepped down from their governmental roles.