Osotsapa chairman surat dies aged 78

Surat, also a former Cabinet member and deputy leader of the Chart Pattana Party, was an avid photographer and antique collector.

After retiring from full-time business work in the late 1990s, he spent two years taking photographs on various lifestyles in Bangkok and put his work on an exhibition entitled "Vanishing Bangkok".

Today, Osotsapa Group is one of the country's largest conglomerates for consumer products with sizeable market shares in the energy drinks market.

His funeral will be held at That Thong Temple's Chao Chom Pavilion today, with bathing rites scheduled for 2pm.

Surat served as commerce minister in 1985 during the Prem Tinsulanonda administration.

He was appointed to many key political positions, including deputy transport minister in 1975 and deputy interior minister in 1983.