Thai Economy Registers 3.2 Pct GDP Growth In Q3

From Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- Thailand registered a slower gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 3.2 per cent in the third quarter of this year from 3.5 per cent in the previous quarter, says the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). Secretary-General Porametee Vimolsiri said the NESDB projected 3.2 per cent GDP growth this year and between 3.0 and 4.0 per cent next year, driven mainly by export. For the quarter under review, Thai exports expanded 0.4 per cent to 54.907 billion baht (US$1=35 baht), while imports declined 2.4 per cent to 45.935 billion baht, he told a news conference here Monday. Porametee said the country's exports were projected to grow 2.4 per cent to 219.2 billion baht next year, while imports to increase 4.5 per cent to 185 billion baht, with trade surplus amounting to 33.7 billion baht. The tourism sector would remain the country's growth engine next year with the target of 35.6 million tourist arrivals compared with 33 million projected for this year, he added. -- BERNAMA