Somkid, a former finance minister and deputy prime minister for the Thaksin government was Thursday appointed chairman of a foreign economic relations committee, Deputy PM's Secretary-General Weerachai Weeramethikul announced.

Weerachai said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont signed an order to appoint the foreign economic cooperation and relations committee.

Weerachai said the committee would be in charge of explaining to foreign governments, media and education institutions about Thailand's key economic policies.

Eight other members of the committee are Weerachai, the director-general of the Public Relations Department, the director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, the secretary-general of the Board of Investment, the director of the Fiscal Policy Office, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the director-general of the International Economic Affairs and the secretary-general of the International Economic Affairs.

The order also appointed a team of advisors for the committee. The team members are the PM's secretary-general, Sompol Kiatpaibool, former permanent secretary for Commerce, and the president of the Thai Industry Federation, the chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the president of the Thai Bankers Association.

Somkid said after his appointment that he would work to supplement the works of government agencies to get foreign countries understand the principle of sufficiency economy.

Somkid said he still had connections with foreign countries so he would use the connections for his works. He would have to make some foreign visits.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Somkid's appointment had nothing to do with politics.

He said Somkid had offered to help explain the idea of sufficiency economy to foreign countries so he appointed him as the economic envoy.

The Nation