Thailand
Thailand: Ministry raises 2017 growth outlook to 3.8% from 3.6%
The Finance Ministry on Monday raised its economic growth forecast for this year to 3.8% from 3.6%, and upgraded its estimate for export gains, a senior official said.
Exports, a key driver of Thai growth, should increase 8.5% this year, compared with the 4.7% projected in July, Suwit Rojanavanich, director general of the ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office, told a news conference.
The economy this year will mainly be driven by stronger exports and tourism amid improved private investment, he said.
So far, a strong baht has not appeared to dent export competitiveness, but the government is worried that trade and economic growth could be dented in 2018 if the baht continues to climb.
The baht has appreciated by 7.7% against the dollar this year, the biggest gain among Asian currencies.
Exports recovered in 2017 after a modest 0.5% rise in 2016 following three years of contraction, customs data showed.
For 2018, the ministry predicts economic growth of 3.8%, mainly driven by government spending. It predicts exports will rise 5.7%.
Last month, the Bank of Thailand raised its 2017 economic growth forecast to 3.8% from 3.5%. It also projects growth of 3.8% for 2018.
The growth has picked up but still lags regional peers. Private investment has remained weak for years while high household debt has crimped consumption.
In 2016, the economy expanded 3.2%.
The Finance Ministry predicts the central bank will keep its policy interest rate at 1.5%, where it has been since April 2015, throughout 2018.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1351224/ministry-raises-2017-growth-outlook-to-3-8-from-3-6-