Asia Honorary Advisers
Prof. Supachai Panitchpakdi
Asia Honorary Adviser, Thailand
Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, born in Bangkok on 30 May 1946, studied at the Netherlands School of Economics (now Erasmus University) on a Bank of Thailand scholarship.
In 1973, he completed his doctoral dissertation under Nobel laureate Professor Jan Tinbergen, which was later published as Educational Growth in Developing Countries—a key reference in sustainable development research.
After a year as a visiting fellow at Cambridge University, Dr. Supachai began his career at the Bank of Thailand before transitioning to politics. He served as Deputy Finance Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Commerce, publishing Globalisation and Trade in the New Millennium in 2001.
Dr. Supachai became the first Director General of the WTO (2002–2005) from a developing country, where he championed development-focused policies, initiated the World Trade Report, and laid the groundwork for the Aid for Trade initiative. As UNCTAD Secretary General (2005–2013), he reformed the organisation, enhanced research, and advocated for inclusive globalisation.
Currently based in Bangkok, Dr. Supachai serves as an advisor to international organisations, including Asia-New Zealand Foundation, Global Leadership Foundation and Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. His latest book, One Belt One Road Initiative: Pathway Towards Development-led Globalisation, was published in 2019.