Varawut Silpa-archa

Varawut Silpa-archa (, ; born 11 July 1973) is a Thai politician who has served as Minister of Industry under the second cabinet of Anutin Charnvirakul, Also former Minister of Social Development and Human Security from 2023 to 2025 under the coalition government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra cabinet until 2025. Previously, he served as Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Early life and education Varawut Silpa-archa was born on 11 July 1973 at Bang Khun Phrom Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. His nickname is "Top". He is the youngest son of Banharn Silpa-archa, a former leader of the Chart Thai Party, and former Prime Minister of Thailand with Khunying Jamsai Silpa-archa. Within his family life, he is married to Suwanna Silpa-archa and has three children.

Varawut graduated from primary and secondary grades 1-2 from Saint Gabriel's College in Bangkok and attended high school in England. He holds a bachelor's degree in B.Eng. (Mechanical Engineering), University College London, United Kingdom, and a master's degree MBA in Finance and Banking, University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States.

Political careers Varawut entered the political path following his father by being a member of the House of Representatives Suphan Buri Province in 2001, 2005 and 2007 under the Thai Nation Party and received the position of Deputy Minister of Transport in the government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. In 2008, he was disqualified from politics for five years because he was an executive director of the Chart Thai Party, which the Constitutional Court judges had decided to dissolve.

Later, in the 2019 Thai general election, he was elected on the party-list system and was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Personal life He is married to Suwanna Silpa-archa (née Raiwin), President of the Figure and Speed Skating Association of Thailand/Vice President of the Olympic Committee of Thailand, who is the younger sister of Kung- Ravich Raiwin, a famous actor, and the older sister of Ying- Kanya Raiwin, a famous presenter and actress. They have 3 children together: Teekhree Silpa-Archa (Thames), a member of the Thai national figure skating team, Rittana Silpa-archa (Big Ben) and Palomporn Silpa-archa (Austin).

Royal decorations Varawut has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand: