Here are some people from Thailand who have gained international recognition with their work.
In many respects, the history of Thailand is reminiscent of dystopian fiction, with its deep class divisions, beneficent king, rapid technical advancement, and series of military coups. Some prominent Thai citizens have emerged as guiding lights throughout all of this, influencing the political, economic, and social landscapes of the country and helping to write the next chapter in Thailand's narrative.
Korn Chatikavanij
In 2010, The Financial Times named Mr. Chatikavanij "World Finance Minister” the year before for his efforts to modernize the Thai economy despite rising political tension, the ascent of the military regime, and widespread public discontent. By backing policy shifts to assist the economy to become less dependent on manufacturing, he also led Thailand in the direction of becoming a more stable, and environmentally society. Now, he serves as chairman of the Thai FinTech Club and as the driving force behind the Refine International Dot Com, both of which are dedicated to helping young Thai entrepreneurs succeed in the financial technology industry.
Thaksin Shinawatra
In modern-day Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra is among the most contentious figures. His government's initiatives to combat poverty, improve infrastructure, provide healthcare to all citizens, and support local businesses during his tenure as Prime Minister (2001-2006) earned him widespread acclaim in rural Thailand. Even though the contentious campaign sparked three months of bloodshed in the South, he also succeeded in reforming the drug laws in the kingdom. The high death toll and the fact that many of the fatalities were innocent bystanders led to widespread condemnation of these tactics. He was the first prime minister to be elected legitimately and fulfill a full term before being deposed by coup leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin in 2006.
Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal
Chotiphatphaisal, who is only 21 years old, has become the spokesperson for Thailand's new anti-junta movement. The National Council of Peace & Order (NCPO) seized control from the democratically elected government in May 2014, and he has inspired millions of Thais, many of whom are extremely young like himself, to stand up to their authority. In particular, the anti-junta movement objects to the military's censorship of the Internet and the country's lèse-majesté legislation, the world's most stringent statute of its type, which imposes severe penalties on anybody convicted of insulting the king or government. He started the Thailand Education Revolution Alliance (TERA) and the Education for Liberation of Siam (ELS) to give students a voice.
Ariya Banomyong
Banomyong, once the first national leader of Google Thailand, is now the general manager of the massively successful mobile app LINE. To match Thailand's rapid technical and telecommunications improvements over the past decade, LINE was transformed under his guidance, and Thais' use of the app increased dramatically. With 90% of its netizens already using smartphones, Thailand has emerged as Southeast Asia's most mobile-friendly nation. Ninety-two percent of these users only talk to each other via LINE, bringing the whole kingdom closer together.
