Thai government urged to speed up mega-investment projects

BANGKOK, October 22 (TNA) - The private sector has urged the Thai government to accelerate its mega-investment projects on expanded infrastructure to stimulate the national economic growth. Suphan Mongkolsuthee, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), told journalists on Wednesday that the local private sector also called for the government to solve obstacles to border trade, keep energy and electricity prices at suitable levels and set up Thailand's information centers on investment in neighboring countries to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to the FTI, the private sector's calls followed the Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) dropped for the second consecutive month in September 2014, from 88.7 in August to 86.1, and domestic production and sales of locally-produced automobiles also declined by 15.6 per cent year-on-year and by 27.5 per cent year-on-year respectively. Based on the FTI's latest survey, the TISI for the next three months, however, stood at 104.7, up from 102.4 in its previous survey in August. (TNA)