ID :
375421
Tue, 07/28/2015 - 06:56
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Thai Cabinet Under Pressure To Reshuffle

By Piyarat Nisangkard BANGKOK, July 28 (Bernama) -- The Thai Government, facing low economic growth and contraction in export, is facing increasing pressures from the public to reshuffle the cabinet. Speaking to reporters Monday, Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha said he would consider it at an appropriate time, taking into consideration age and health factors and not because of the public pressures. He said he may consider a reshuffle after the cabinet's first anniversary or earlier. Prayuth was elected prime minister by the National Legislative Assembly in August last year after heading a coup on May 22 on the same year that deposed former premier Yingluck Shinawatra. He delivered the government's policy statement at the National Legislative Assembly on Sept 12, 2014. He said the government has listened to the voice of the people who sometimes were not happy or impatient with the government's performance. The cabinet members holding portfolio relating to the economy, in partcular Commerce Minister, General Chatchai Sarikalya, are under pressure to be reshuffled as the people think the government had failed to solve economic problem. Prayuth said the people only thought about the sluggish economy but did not pay attention to the factors or reasons that have impacted the country's growth. He said Thai economy was not the only one impacted from the global economy. Meanwhile, Thai Commerce Ministry announced that the kingdom's export contracted 4.84 per cent to US$106.85 billion in the first half of this year, with both agriculture and industrial sectors showing decline. The weakening baht has not done much to help boost export, it said. The ministry said with the weak performance, it would announce by next month a new revised export target for this year, which currently is set at a growth of 1.2 per cent. In the first half, imports declined 7.91 per cent to US$103.38 billion. The country's exports have dropped by 7.87 per cent to US$18.16 billion in June, the sixth consecutive month of fall. Imports last month fell 0.21 per cent to US$18.01 billion, which meant Thailand posted a trade surplus of US$150 million. -- BERNAMA

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