Thailand's Ministry of Commerce appointed Poonpong Nayakorn as the new Permanent Secretary on 5 August 2026, succeeding Wuthikrai Leeveeraphund's retirement. Poonpong brings 30+ years of trade and business development experience, having championed initiatives like the cost-of-living relief program and anti-nominee measures. His key priorities as Permanent Secretary include driving exports amid global trade tensions, stabilizing consumer prices, supporting SME digitalization and online commerce competitiveness, and aligning trade policy with global sustainability standards—critical tasks amid intensifying economic pressures.