Thai economy to sustain growth 4.2% in 2018

BANGKOK, Nov 18 (TNA) -- Thailand’s economy is expected to sustain growth at 4.2 per cent in 2018, up from between 3.8-4 per cent this year, on positive signs of global economic recovery along with rising Thailand’s exports and an increasing number of foreign tourists visiting the kingdom, according to Thanawat Polvichai, director of University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC)’s Economic and Business Forecasting Centre. Prices of key Thai agricultural produce are currently quite low now, said Mr Thanawat, adding that world economy, especially India, is still growing and this would help member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Besides that Thailand’s exports and revenue from tourists visiting Thailand which are expected to increase to 38 million people in 2018, government’s financial assistance to the poor at five billion baht monthly and money spending before a general election will further boost Thailand’s economy, he said. The government’s investment on basic infrastructure and measures to further boost the country’s economy would help economy to grow at 4.2 per cent next year, said Mr Thanawat. Thailand’s economy is projected to grow not less than 4 per cent until 2020 and it would grow over 5 per cent in 2021, he said. (TNA)