NESDB sticks to 3.3% growth forecast

NESDB sticks to 3.3% growth forecast

Robust performance in fourth quarter

Mr Porametee says the government may not need to introduce additional stimulus measures since the existing ones are sufficient to boost the economy for the remaining months of the year. Krit Promsaka na Sakolnakorn
Mr Porametee says the government may not need to introduce additional stimulus measures since the existing ones are sufficient to boost the economy for the remaining months of the year. Krit Promsaka na Sakolnakorn

The government's think-tank is maintaining its 3.3% economic growth forecast for this year, buoyed by growing tourism, recovering domestic consumption and the government's accelerated spending and measures to help low-income groups.

According to Porametee Vimolsiri, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), despite rising concerns over the past few weeks the government remains fully confident in its handling of the economic situation.

"For the remaining three months of this year, there is so far nothing to be concerned about, as the country's economic management is still running as usual, while the government's stimulus measures are expected to come into effect in the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year."

With the nation engulfed in grief, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak insisted last week at Creative Thailand 2016, which ran until last Sunday at Bitec, that Thailand's economic fundamentals remain sound, with foreign investment expected to boost the creative and innovative industries.

He also urged Thais to be confident about their country's growth potential and focus their sorrow towards driving Thailand's economic growth.

He insisted the government has tried its best in recent years to introduce various policies to drive economic growth, restore political stability and lay down solid foundations for the country's long-term economic development, while tackling issues such as income disparity and competitiveness.

Over the past two years, the government has allocated 100 billion baht to reform the agricultural sector, support local businesses and develop infrastructure.

Mr Porametee said Thailand's economic growth in the third quarter may be be lower than in the second quarter, but the performance in the fourth quarter is expected to expand robustly in light of higher farm product prices, improved consumption, particularly driven by higher spending on black attire, and travelling expenses, improving exports and the government's measures to speed up expenditure in the 2017 fiscal budget.

The NESDB is scheduled to announce GDP figures for the third quarter on Nov 21.

The state's economic planning unit revealed in August that the country's GDP fared better than expected, growing by 3.5% year-on-year in the second quarter, up from 3.2% in the first.

Consequently, the economy in the first half grew by 3.4%, up from 2.8% growth in the previous year.

The NESDB expects the economy in the second half to grow at the same pace as the first.

Its economic growth forecast is about 3.3% or in a range of 3-3.5% this year, up from 2.8% growth last year and 0.8% in 2014.

The board also trimmed its export forecast this year to a 1.9% contraction from a 1.7% decline in the previous forecast.

It revised down total investment to 3.3% from the 4.2% projection in May, citing delays in state enterprise investment, while private investment is unlikely to be as active as expected.

Government investment is expected to accelerate in the second half of the year, particularly for the planned 1.64-trillion-baht infrastructure projects.

Some 100 billion baht worth of spending from government stimulus measures is expected to flow in the second half of the year.

"The government may not need to introduce additional stimulus measures," said Mr Porametee. "Existing measures are still enough to boost the economy for the remaining months."

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