Private sector is monitoring situations in France, Syria

BANGKOK, Nov 18 (TNA) -- Situations in France and Syria have not affected Thailand because of small Thai export to France but the private sector is monitoring incidents there closely. Regarding attacks in Paris that preceded violent responses by the United States, France and Russia to strongholds of the Islamic State group in Syria, Preedee Daochai, president of Kasikornbank, said the situations had been unexpected and business and banking sectors were closely monitoring them. He commented that it was still too early to assess the impacts of the violence. At present, there was not a report on any impacts on Thailand because Thai export to France was small compared with export to such main markets as ASEAN and China, he said. Mr Preedee predicted that the Thai economy should grow by 2.8% this year due to decreasing export. Lending increases by only 6% this year. He expected economic recovery next year due to improved export and growing tourism. (TNA)