Thai-Chinese economic index to be introduced late 2017

BANGKOK, May 16 (TNA) - The Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) has agreed to work together with Bangkok-based Chulalongkorn University to develop the Thai-Chinese economic index to be first publicly reported in the third quarter of this year. TCCC President Jitti Tangsitphakdee told journalists of the update on Tuesday, after the signing of the agreement between TCCC and the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University. Jitti said the new Thai-Chinese economic index will be developed and reported quarterly in three languages, including Thai, Chinese and English, with the first report set to be released in the third quarter of this year. According to the TCCC president, the Thai-Chinese economic index will be based on surveys on opinions of some 9,000 business operators who are members of TCCC and those of 36 Thai-Chinese business confederations in Thailand. Meanwhile, Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanee Chaiwat at the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University, told reporters that the surveys will be conducted on the random basis on leading Thai-Chinese business operators who successfully run multi-national corporations (MNCs) that are also listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). The senior academic revealed that the new Thai-Chinese economic index will be comprised of the updated outlook and trend of the Thai economy and the outlook of major Thai industries. Besides, the quarterly reports will include those on Sino-Thai relations and special scoops on "hot business issues", like China's One Belt One Road Policy. (TNA)