Thai PM Expects 3.5-4 Pct Economic Growth This Year

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, Aug 30 (Bernama) –- Thai Prime Minister, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, is bullish about the country’s economy and expects the gross domestic product to grow by between 3.5 and four per cent. Prayut said he also expected exports to grow by five per cent this year after the sector registered sterling performance in July with double-digit growth. "Exports in July grew by 10.5 per cent year-on-year and we expect overall growth (in exports) this year to be five per cent," he told reporters after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting here on Tuesday. The prime minister said the strong growth in exports so far this year was driven by, among others, the opening up of new markets for Thai producers and manufacturers. He said the investors and Thailand's trading partners viewed political stabililty highly and wanted it to continue in the interests of the country's economy. -- BERNAMA