Public debt at 41.06% of GDP
Thailand's public debt stood at Bt4.36 trillion or 41.06 per cent of gross domestic product at the end of January, when the government's four borrowing decrees to finance post-flood investment were not yet endorsed.
The public debt ratio in the month fell from 43 per cent, due to a decree that approved the transfer of Financial Institutions Development Fund's Bt1.14 trillion debt obligation from the Finance Ministry to the Bank of Thailand.
The post-flood borrowing schemes, endorsed in March, are expected to boost the ratio to nearly 60 per cent in 2013.
The Public Debt Management Office's data shows that in January, of total debt, an amount of Bt3.12 trillion belonged to the government; Bt1.08 trillion to non-financial state enterprises; and Bt167.27 billion to specialised financial institutions.
Compared to December, the public debt increased by Bt64.46 billion, mostly due to borrowing of state enterprises.
Of total, Bt343.79 billion or 7.88 per cent are denominated in foreign currencies. Meanwhile, only 42.4 billion or 0.97 per cent of the outstanding was short-term or loans with maturity of 12 months or lower.
