Thailand’s GDP growth forecast cut to 1%
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) says economic growth in 2014 will be a mere one percentage point against 2.9 per cent last year.
In its report on economic outlook released Monday, the NESDB revised down its projection for Thailand’s economic growth in 2014 from 1.5-20 per cent to 1 per cent.
NESDB Secretary-General Arkom Termpitayapaisit said the new projection was based on the country’s economic performance in the third quarter and in the first nine months of this year.
He said Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.6 per cent in the third quarter from July-September period and by 0.2 per cent from January-September period. Private investment expanded by 3.9 per cent in the third quarter after plunging below the red line for four consecutive quarters.
But he added NESDB projects that the Thai economy will grow by 3.5-4.5 per cent next year thanks to exports which are likely to perform well in line with the global economic recovery, the government’s tourism promotion campaign and expansion by firms that have received promotional privileges from the government.
Meanwhile, Bank of Thailand spokesperson Jirathep Seniwong na Ayutthaya said the central bank will also revise down its projection for Thailand’s economic growth in 2014 as the country’s GDP growth in the third quarter as revealed by NESDB was lower than the bank’s projection of 1.5 per cent.
Central bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul also voiced concern over growing household debt in the country. Household debt has expanded rapidly in the country over the past 4-5 years, indicating that there are problems in the people sector, he said.
Growth in household debt is also close to the level of GDP growth, he noted. The central bank will monitor loan extension by commercial banks after finding that interest rate on loans to households are as high as 15-20 per cent.
The Thai economy remains weighed down by huge losses caused by the rice purchase program of the previous government (between 700 billion and 1 trillion baht) that hamper public investment and household debt that hinders private consumption. Only exports and private investment are likely to boost growth, but exports are suffering at this time of weak growth in Japan and the countries of the EU, and the slowdown in China.
Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) says economic growth in 2014 will be a mere one percentage point against 2.9 per cent last year. In its report on economic outlook released Monday, the NESDB revised down its projection for Thailand’s economic growth in 2014 from 1.5-20 per cent to 1 per cent. NESDB Secretary-General Arkom Termpitayapaisit said the new projection was based on the country’s economic performance in the third quarter and in the first nine months of this year. He said Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.6 per cent in the third quarter from July-September...
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) says economic growth in 2014 will be a mere one percentage point against 2.9 per cent last year.
In its report on economic outlook released Monday, the NESDB revised down its projection for Thailand’s economic growth in 2014 from 1.5-20 per cent to 1 per cent.
NESDB Secretary-General Arkom Termpitayapaisit said the new projection was based on the country’s economic performance in the third quarter and in the first nine months of this year.
He said Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.6 per cent in the third quarter from July-September period and by 0.2 per cent from January-September period. Private investment expanded by 3.9 per cent in the third quarter after plunging below the red line for four consecutive quarters.
But he added NESDB projects that the Thai economy will grow by 3.5-4.5 per cent next year thanks to exports which are likely to perform well in line with the global economic recovery, the government’s tourism promotion campaign and expansion by firms that have received promotional privileges from the government.
Meanwhile, Bank of Thailand spokesperson Jirathep Seniwong na Ayutthaya said the central bank will also revise down its projection for Thailand’s economic growth in 2014 as the country’s GDP growth in the third quarter as revealed by NESDB was lower than the bank’s projection of 1.5 per cent.
Central bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul also voiced concern over growing household debt in the country. Household debt has expanded rapidly in the country over the past 4-5 years, indicating that there are problems in the people sector, he said.
Growth in household debt is also close to the level of GDP growth, he noted. The central bank will monitor loan extension by commercial banks after finding that interest rate on loans to households are as high as 15-20 per cent.
The Thai economy remains weighed down by huge losses caused by the rice purchase program of the previous government (between 700 billion and 1 trillion baht) that hamper public investment and household debt that hinders private consumption. Only exports and private investment are likely to boost growth, but exports are suffering at this time of weak growth in Japan and the countries of the EU, and the slowdown in China.
