Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said he approved the appointment after Somkid volunteered to serve the government in any capacity deemed necessary.

"Somkid's appointment is meant for confidence building on the sufficiency economy theory, a thinking on development that is line with capitalism and the market economy," Surayud said.

He expected Somkid would help clear lingering doubts among foreign investors, particularly those in China and Japan. "Foreign media reports have many misconceptions about the sufficiency thinking and some have even suggested that Thailand is reverting to a self-sufficiency economy," he said.

Given that Somkid oversaw economic affairs under the previous government, he should be in a position to explain the changes and allay investors' concerns.

Somkid will head a nine-member committee and a team of five advisers. His job description is limited to being a spokesman - with no involvement in policy making, and he will report directly to the prime minister.

"I intend to co-ordinate and strengthen international economic relations, a matter I am well familiar with," Somkid said following the announcement of his appointment.

Somkid's official title is chairman of the Committee for Co-ordination and Boosting of International Economic Relations. His appointment follows a dip in confidence about the direction of the country's development.

Many political commentators were surprised that Somkid agreed to reinvent himself as a proponent of an economic model seen as the opposite of the previous regime's populist policies, which he was a key architect of.

Reacting to the appointment, Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet said he welcomed any helping hand - even though he was not informed in advance.

"It is good to raise awareness and understanding on the thinking of sufficiency economy," he said.

He was confident the international community would eventually understand the thinking as sustainable development and prudent fiscal policy. The country was trying to get over "Thaksinomics", which involved wasteful and imprudent spending, he said.

Deputy PM Kosit Panpiemras said he was surprised but had no objection to Somkid helping to move the country forward.

Within hours of the appointment, Deputy PM Pridiyathorn Devakula and his colleague Kosit had a brief meeting with Surayud.

Emerging from the meeting, Pridiyathorn said Somkid was tasked to promote international economic relations without any advisory and policy-making role.

"According to the prime minister, Somkid will be confined to promoting the understanding of sufficiency economy theory and has no role in working with the economic team," he said.

He ruled out speculation that he and Somkid might work together to map out economic strategy. The prime minister had assured him the appointment would have no political implications, and rejected a new line-up for economic affairs.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, chairman of the Council for National Security, in response to news of Somkid's appointment, said he welcomed participation by highly capable people. "If Somkid suggests good ideas about the economy, I think the government will adopt them," he said.

But Suriyasai Katasila, secretary general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, felt Somkid's appointment would lead to confusion in society and even in the government.

"Somkid didn't appear to care for sufficiency economy before," he said, adding that the government should "stop playing two faces".

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation