Chaiyachonok, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, confirmed there will be no delay in the TH-AI Passport project. He stated that any pause must meet three criteria and expressed no concerns. Permanent officials affirmed adherence to proper procedures and rebutted allegations made by Rakchanok.
At 16:05 on 15 June 2026 GMT+7. Chaiyachonok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), gave an interview at the Government House after hosting a public consultation forum. The TH-AI Passport project and whether it will proceed or not, he said the first negotiations with the contractor will be tomorrow (16 June) and the outcome remains to be seen.
When asked to confirm if the project would not be delayed or paused, Chaiyachonok replied that a pause would only occur if three conditions are met: illegal actions, inefficient use of budget, or non-compliance with government policy. If any of these occur, cancellation is definite. However, the permanent officials confirm the process is correct, and he has instructed the Permanent Secretary of DE to monitor all information continuously. If any wrongdoing occurs, cancellation will certainly follow.
After listening to public feedback, presenting the product, and initiating negotiations, he believes the budget efficiency, unit production cost, and product quality are clearly good. This is the area he is involved with, especially since the public consultation stage. However, he confirmed he is not involved in procurement procedures, which are handled by permanent officials responsible for verification and public clarification.
Regarding whether contract details or the Terms of Reference (TOR) will be adjusted, Chaiyachonok said, “The TOR cannot be changed, but contract annexes can be added if the contractor agrees during negotiations. We must wait for tomorrow’s meeting to see.”
When asked how the annexes might be modified, he said adjustments are necessary if the project continues, such as paying based on actual usage. This approach ensures budget efficiency—no payment if services are unused, so the government avoids unnecessary expenses. All proposed agreements and negotiations aim to benefit both the state and the public.
Regarding whether additional annexes are needed for pay-per-use, Chaiyachonok stated there are several matters, but relevant agencies will discuss and finalize them later. On public doubts about the contractor’s eligibility, he said transparency must be ensured by operational teams and permanent officials managing the process. Concerning social media claims that bidders prepared before the project started last year, he said he was unaware as he only provided policy direction.
. MP Rakchanok Srinok, a party-list MP from the People’s Party, accused Chaiyachonok of the Prime Minister not intervening in the project because it involves the Prime Minister’s son. Chaiyachonok dismissed this as unrelated. He reaffirmed commitment to regulations and rules, stating that if any illegal or improper actions occur, he is ready to reset everything. However, based on explanations from relevant agencies, all procedures have been conducted properly.
When asked if he is concerned about opposition parties submitting requests for independent agency investigations, Chaiyachonok said he is not worried since he only sets policy. Those involved in the process also express no concern. He suggested directing such questions to permanent officials or operational staff but emphasized he personally remains unconcerned.