Chamber of commerce projects 3.5-4% economic growth

BANGKOK, July 7 (TNA) -- The Thai Chamber of Commerce believes the economy will grow better in the second half of this year than it did in the first half. It projects the growth will be 3.5-4% this year thanks to export recovery. Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, confirmed the economic outlook, saying the economies of trading partners improved unexpectedly, export significantly recovered and was expanding more than expected and the government was investing in infrastructure and industrial projects in regions including a high-speed railway in the Northeast and the Eastern Economic Corridor in the East. The export value in the first five months of this year increased by 7.2% to US$93.26 billion and its annual growth this year should be close to the 5% target of the Commerce Ministry, he said. Tourism was also expanding well as 14.6 million people visited Thailand in the first five months of this year, up 3.2%. In June alone Thailand welcome 2.2 million more visitors, Mr Kalin said. Mr Kalin also commented that he disagreed with high fines on illegal employment of foreign workers and the government should facilitate the registration of foreign workers. (TNA)