Mr Nirat joined Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and senior government officials at the opening ceremony of the OTOP Midyear 2026 fair at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in Nonthaburi on Monday (June 22).
His appearance came less than a week after the Cabinet approved an order transferring him from his position as Governor of Phuket to become Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior in Bangkok.
However, despite the Cabinet’s approval, Mr Nirat technically remains Governor of Phuket until the transfer is formally published in the Royal Gazette, Phuket provincial officials have confirmed.
The June 22 event marked Mr Nirat’s first official public engagement in Bangkok following the announcement of his reassignment.
The exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Community Development under the theme ‘OTOP Next Inspiration: Creating Value for Wisdom Products, Reaching the Global Market’, was officially opened by PM Anutin.
Also attending were deputy prime ministers, cabinet ministers, ambassadors, senior Interior Ministry executives, governors from across Thailand, private-sector representatives and OTOP entrepreneurs.
Following the opening ceremony, PM Anutin toured exhibitions showcasing products from across the country, including displays highlighting the Royal Family and Thai community products developed for international markets.
Addressing the event, PM Anutin said the government remained committed to strengthening OTOP entrepreneurs by improving product quality, encouraging innovation and expanding opportunities in both domestic and overseas markets.
He urged the public to support OTOP products, saying they generate income for local communities while promoting Thailand’s cultural identity abroad.
The government has also expanded the ‘Thais Help Thais Plus’ programme during this year’s fair, with more than 90% of the event’s 2,000-plus vendors participating. Officials said sales exceeded B172 million during the first two days alone.
The exhibition, running until June 28, features products from across the country, including textiles, handicrafts, jewellery, food, beverages, health and spa products, and tourism-related community enterprises.
Mr Nirat’s appearance follows his public acceptance of the Cabinet’s decision to transfer him after just 210 days as Phuket governor, as corruption scandals continued to rock Phuket.
Speaking last week, he said he respected the decision by PM Anutin and Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Arsit Sampantharat and would continue serving wherever he was assigned.
“I respect the Prime Minister’s decision,” Mr Nirat said at the time.
He also rejected suggestions he had become involved in the “bitter internal conflict” that has engulfed Phuket’s provincial administration, insisting he had attempted only to resolve disputes rather than align himself with any faction.
His transfer came amid an unprecedented purge of Phuket’s senior administration that has seen at least eight senior provincial officials removed or reassigned since May following allegations involving corruption, abuse of authority, internal conflict and the influence of powerful local figures.
Mr Nirat’s successor, Chotinrin Kerdsom, is expected to take over as Phuket governor once his appointment also receives the required royal endorsement and is published in the Royal Gazette. Until then, Mr Nirat remains the province’s governor despite already appearing at official duties in Bangkok.