Economy will grow 1.5-3.5% this year: JSCCID
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCID) estimated on Wednesday that the Thai economy would grow 1.5-3.5 per cent this year.
In addition, exports are likely to grow by 3-5 per cent, while inflation is hoped to be at most 1 per cent.
The JSCCID said the economy in the first quarter would be pressured by the Covid-19 crisis.
The factors that could help a recovery in the short term include the government’s ability to deal with the virus and its measures to assist businesses, the committee pointed out.
It asked the government to tackle the container shortage problem, which is affecting exports, and said the government should find a way to help the sale of fruits produced from March.
The JSCCID also voiced concern that trade between Thailand and Myanmar would experience “obstructions” if other countries intervened over the coup in that country.
More importantly, the committee asked the government to focus on procuring Covid-19 vaccines as quickly as possible, as this would help the economy and tourism.