Finance minister expects GDP to rise by at least 4.5%

BANGKOK, July 4 (TNA) -- Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong sees many factors that will support the economic growth by at least 4.5% this year. The factors happened in all economic sectors in the first quarter of this year, he said. They included exports, tourism and investment in the government sector. Trade barriers from the United States, China and Europe would not have a significant impact on Thailand. On the contrary they might be opportunities for Thai exports to substitute the products that those countries were blocking against one another, the finance minister said. According to Mr Apisak, exports to Southeast Asian nations form the majority of Thai exports as Southeast Asian economies start to be independent. He believed Thailand would be freed from its middle-income trap finally. (TNA)