Banyong Pongpanich, a member of the State Enterprise Policy Commission, has thrown his support behind privatisation of state enterprises and demutualisation of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
The move was recently proposed by the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Privatising state enterprises can be done via full privatisation when the Finance Ministry sells its entire stake or by privatisation of state enterprises engaged in a monopoly, Mr Banyong said.
He said before privatisation of state enterprises engaged in a monopoly, allowing the private sector to enter the business would help to prevent some groups of investors from exploiting the privatisation and enhance free competition.
Privatisation of businesses such as Suvarnabhumi airport should entail special laws to prevent operators from setting unfair prices for services and passing the burden onto consumers.
The 14-member commission, also known as the superboard, recently agreed to form three subcommittees to resolve problems of financially ailing state enterprises, monitor grouping of state enterprises, abolish unessential state enterprises, develop supervision and upgrade corporate governance.
NCPO chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha heads the superboard along with NCPO deputy and chief of economic affairs ACM Prajin Juntong.
Other members from government agencies are the defence, finance, transport, energy and interior permanent secretaries, the secretary-generals of the Council of State and the National Economic and Social Development Board and the director of the State Enterprise Policy Office.
Apart from Mr Banyong, other independent members include Kasikornbank chief executive Banthoon Lamsam and director Rapee Sucharitakul; and Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul.
To prevent politicians from causing problems for state enterprises following a new general election, new laws must be enacted, Mr Banyong said.
He said non-financial state enterprises generated combined annual revenue of 5 trillion baht.
Their expenses amount to 4.6 trillion baht, while their investment budgets total 400 billion.
Mr Banyong said demutualisation of the SET would enhance efficiency, competitiveness and development.
A demutualisation plan was scrapped by the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
"Most of the previous plan remains practicable," Mr Banyong said.