UNCTAD chief foresees recovering Thai and global economies

BANGKOK, February 16 (TNA) - Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Supachai Panitchpakdi said Thursday that he now sees a momentum of an economic recovery worldwide. Supachai, who is a former Thai deputy premier and a former commerce minister, assessed that global economies, including the Thai economy, will keep expanding in the foreseeable future, after having been affected by years of a world economic downturn. The UNCTAD chief suggested, however, that every concerned party in Thailand steps up security measures, covering strict screening and inspections at all immigration check points throughout the country including those at airports, to thwart future untoward incidents and to build up confidence in the Thai Kingdom among international business operators and travellers. The UNCTAD chief's remarks were in response to a series of bomb blasts on Sukhumvit 71 Road in Bangkok on February 14, caused by at least an Iranian man, injuring five people including the Iranian perpetrator caught-red-handed with grenades, who has, himself, lost his two legs and has been hospitalized with a critical conditionใ The UNCTAD secretary-general acknowledged the international community has learned that no Thai people have involved in the violence, urging all parties in the country to, therefore, do the best to prevent any serious incident in the future to maintain, in overall perspective, national order. (TNA)