DPM:Thai economy should return to normal growth in September

BANGKOK, June 18 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, who oversees economic affairs, says that the Thai economy should return to its normal growth rate as of September 2015, while Thai exports should expand by 10 per cent and the country's gross domestic product (GDP) should grow by 5 per cent within a few years. MR Pridiyathorn made the assessment while delivering a speech on good governance and economic development in Bangkok on Thursday, explaining that the Thai economy has slowed down over the past year to correct its fundamentals and it should resume its normal growth in September 2015. MR Pridiyathorn projected that Thailand's GDP should grow by 3-4 per cent during 2015-2016, boosted mainly by the government's spending and domestic tourism. The deputy prime minister pointed out that the Thai government could continue to spend state budgets to stimulate the national economy over the next couple of years, as public debts remain low. According to the deputy premier, the baht depreciation helps boost exports and if Thai exports adjusted to global demands and grew by more than 10 per cent, the national economy could then expand by 4-5 per cent. The deputy prime minister suggested that good governance make people in Thailand and other countries happy, which is more important than a high GDP. (TNA)