Thailand appoints new central bank boss
Thailand appointed a new governor of its central bank on Tuesday to steer the country's economy as it emerges from the global financial crisis and the worst domestic political unrest in decades.
Prasarn Trairatvorakul, president of Bangkok's third-largest commercial bank Kasikornbank, was approved by the cabinet to take the helm of the Bank of Thailand (BOT) when the current governor retires at the end of September.
"I expect him to preserve the independence of the BOT and to execute the Bank's mission -- that is, to maintain stability and to counter political influence on monetary policy," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.
Harvard-educated Prasarn, 57, was the favourite of four candidates to head the Bank, which has left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low of 1.25 percent since April 2009, citing economic and political risks.
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