BANGKOK, April 25 (TNA) – The World Bank has trimmed its
projection for Thailand’s economic growth this year to 3.8 percent.
Kiatipong Ariyapruchya, World Bank senior economist for
Thailand, revealed the Bank’s East Asia and Pacific Update on Wednesday which
projected economic growth in the region to decelerate to 6 per cent in 2019 and
2020, down from 6.3 per cent in 2018.
For Thailand, economic growth rate was expected to be slower
than the regional average due mainly to shrinking export growth at 5.7 percent
and foreign tourist arrivals, he said.
Average growth of Southeast Asian economies is expected at
4-5 percent this year.
There remained downside risks to Thailand’s growth arising
from unresolved trade tensions between China and the US, Kiatipong said.
Any delay in forming the government would affect public
spending and budget allocation, he warned.
The World Bank projected Thailand’s economic growth rate at 3.8
per cent this year, down from 4.1 per cent in 2018, and 3.9 per cent next year.
(TNA)