The People’s Party has introduced its government economic management team, featuring Naiwut Wongkomet, who promotes a strategy to transform Thailand from a contract manufacturer into an innovation creator, breaking the economic trap.
On 15 Jan 2026 GMT+7, the People’s Party (Pop) launched a new economic team in its "The Professionals" campaign, recruiting Naiwut Wongkomet, co-founder of Silicon Craft, a leading Thai microchip design company exporting to over 40 countries worldwide. He assumes the role of advisor on new industry, research, and innovation, expected to be the candidate for Minister of Industry to lay the foundation of a "new engine" for Thailand’s economy.
Naiwut’s appointment clearly signals the party’s intention to bring in a genuine figure from the high-tech industrial sector to drive the economy. This is not merely an election campaign but a pre-emptive formation of the “People’s government management team” to demonstrate readiness to govern immediately if elected.
The People’s Party highlighted Naiwut’s background as the force behind the success of Thai-designed microchips, a rare strength. He co-founded Silicon Craft, a Thai fabless semiconductor company that has succeeded in the global market, exporting to over 40 countries. This industry requires deep technical expertise (Deep Tech). As a former engineering professor at Chulalongkorn University, he understands the link between education (upstream) and business sectors (downstream). He serves as vice president of the Thai Semiconductor Industry Trade Association and deeply comprehends the “bottlenecks” facing this industry in Thailand.
Naiwut’s vision, emphasized on party platforms and media, is that “Thailand’s industry must stop relying solely on contract manufacturing.” It centers on three key points: addressing the dead-end trap of traditional industries such as internal combustion engines and outdated electronics that are slowing growth; urgently shifting to new engine innovations; using government purchasing power as a springboard—the government must be the first customer to support products designed or partially invented by Thais (Thai-First Design) so Thai companies gain references to sell globally; and producing workforce aligned with needs by having universities collaborate with the private sector, moving beyond research kept on shelves to research aimed at market success.
However, within the "The Professionals" campaign, the People’s Party places Naiwut in the economic and state reform sector, working alongside Sirikanya Tansakul, who oversees macroeconomic and budget issues; Woraphop Wiriyaroj, responsible for energy and monopoly matters; and Pawut Pongwityapanu, focusing on digital affairs.