Died 3 April 1970 | ||
General Pao Pienlert Boripanyutakit (November 10, 1893 to March 4, 1970) was a Thai political figure who served as a Minister of Finance and Minister of Commerce.
Pao was the second oldest of 12 children. He lived and studied in Thailand until the age of 16 at which time he went abroad. He first studied in Germany on full scholarship until World War I, after which he was transferred to Switzerland and later to France at École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr to complete his education.
He returned to Thailand at the age of 28 and served as an army official until he was given the official Title by the King as Lord Boripanyutakit at the age of 36. He was named one of the 19 highest ranking officials in his nation's army, serving as a liaison between the Thai Army and the Allies force during World War I.
He spoke fluent French, German and Thai, and English.
He was the Minister of Finance of Thailand, serving two different terms, from December 8, 1951 – March 30, 1953 and December 17, 1941 – August 1, 1944.
He was the 7th Minister of Commerce of Thailand for 8 terms (February 12, 1935 to February 16, 1942, from May 29, 1948 to 1951, and again from March 31, 1957 to September 16, 1957).
His most notable contribution to finance was that he helped established the foreign currency exchange of Thailand in 1955. In commerce, he helped industrialize the enamelling process for porcelain and metals commercially, started the Export program for the rice industry in Thailand, and helped to create the first seaport in Thailand.