DPM:Thailand's economic fundamentals remain strong

BANGKOK, April 19 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak says that the country's economic fundamentals remain strong and the Thai economy has maintained its status as a regional investment hub. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid made the remarks on Friday, after holding a meeting with executives of the Thai Ministry of Finance at the ministry in Bangkok. Acknowledging that spending of state budgets by government agencies has also met their targeted levels, the Thai deputy prime minister announced that the incumbent caretaker administration of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha will, however, introduce a new economic stimulus package soon to boost the national economy over the next couple of months pending the formation and the inauguration of the newly-elected Thai government. The Thai deputy premier, who oversees economic affairs, reasoned that the new economic stimulus package, to be emphasized on propelling the domestic consumption and tourism, would help smoothen the work of the newly-elected Thai administration, following its taking office over the next few months. Meanwhile, Thai Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong told reporters that the 20-billion baht-new economic stimulus package, expected to be approved by the Thai Cabinet over the next couple of weeks, should help boost the national economy to grow by more than 3 per cent year-on-year during the first two quarters of 2019. (TNA)