Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Thailand
H.E. Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee is a renowned Thai Development Economist and the Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Thailand, effective 25th August 2014. Formely, Dr. Narongchai was Minister of Commerce, a Senator, Member of the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand, Chairman of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development, Director of National Economic and Social Development Board, and, recently, a Member of Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Thailand.
Dr. Narongchai received his bachelor degree in Economics with Honorable from University of Western Australia under the Colombo Plan Scholarship Program and his master degree and doctor of Philosophy in Economics from John Hopkins University under the Rockefeller foundation Global Fellowship Program.
Dr. Narongchai has been active participant/speaker at seminars/conferences in Thailand and overseas on public issues including economic development, regional/sub-regional cooperation, and international economic systems. He served as a member of various international committees or task forces including the ASEAN Task Force (1983-1984), APEC Eminent Persons Group (1993-1996), and ASEM Task Force (2002-2003).
Currently, Dr. Narongchai serves as Chairman or Director of Advisor of the Steering Committee and Council Committee of Mekong Institute, Thailand National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, Khonkaen University Council, Thailand Development Research Institute, and the Fiscal Policy Research Institute Foundation.