PM hopes 2013 golden year for Thai economy

BANGKOK, February 9 (TNA) - Wishing Thais of Chinese origin a Happy Chinese New Year, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday said she hopes the Year of the Snake the golden year for Thailand’s economy. Yingluck wished all Thais of Chinese descent Happy Chinese New Year during her weekly TV and radio programme, saying that her government which has administered the country during the past 18 months has solved several problems including national economy and restoring investor confidence and the government expects to accomplish in every field during its administration for the rest of this year. Touching on the volatility of the global economy, Yingluck asked the people to spend cautiously while the government wants to see banking, financial institutions and the public sector to join in promoting private investment by Thais in the overseas. On the government plans to invest 2.2 trillion baht in massive investment on basic infrastructure, mostly in transportation, she said several countries have given interests in her government-sponsored projects. Concerned government agencies are compiling information as they want to see the projects create employment, boosting efficiency, stimulating economy and improving transportation sector in long-term so that development could be diversified to upcountry, Yingluck said. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong said the government is concerned on the Bank of Thailand’s policy interest rate which now stands at 2.75 per cent as it wants the rate to fall lower. He said the rate, if lower, could still induce foreign capital inflows into the country. (TNA)