Suriya Juangroongruangkit

Suriya Juangroongruangkit (สุริยะ จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ; ; born 10 December 1954) is a Thai politician and was one of the leaders of the Palang Pracharath Party. From 2002 to 2005, as a member of the Thai Rak Thai party, he was the Minister of Transport of Thailand. He was also Thailand's Minister of Industry.

Early life and career
Suriya Juangroongruangkit was born on 10 December 1954 in Bangkok to Thai Chinese ancestry. he attended Triam Udom Suksa School, Phaya Thai, and studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a bachelor of science in manufacturing engineering in 1978. After working for various car companies in Thailand, he was appointed transport minister on 3 October 2002. On 11 March 2005 he started his second term in office.

In 2003, Suriya paid $95,200 USD for a lucky license plate number for his son's car: 9999.

He is the uncle of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

Political career
When Suriya was a member of the Thai Rak Thai, he served as the secretary-general of the party. As part of the Palang Pracharath party, he was an influential member of the Sam Mitr faction. Under Prime-minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, he served as the Minister of Industry.

At the beginning of 2023, there were rumours that both Suriya and Somsak Thepsuthin would defect from the Palang Pracharath party to Pheu Thai. They then informed the party's leader Prawit Wongsuwon of their intention to remain and run in the House of Representative elections. However, on 23 March 2023, Suriya and Somsak, along with Suirya's wife Anongwan joined the Pheu Thai party.