IMF representative meets Thai DPM

BANGKOK, January 28 (TNA) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief, Luis E. Breuer, has met Thai Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula to exchange views on the Thai government's economic plans. MR Pridiyathorn told journalists on Wednesday, after welcoming and holding talks with the visiting IMF representative at Bangkok's Government House, that the IMF mission chief shared information he has gathered from relevant parties in various sectors. MR Pridiyathorn quoted the IMF representative as saying that the incumbent Thai government has been able to spend on state budgets to stimulate the national economy faster than before, proposing the interim Thai government to also speed up its investment budgets to further spur national economic growth. According to the Thai deputy premier, the visiting IMF mission chief understood and agreed with the interim Thai government's operational plans on boosting the national economy after being briefed by him. Besides, the IMF senior official expressed his support for the interim Thai government's restructuring of fuel prices on the domestic market and tax systems, including the introduction of inheritance, land and building taxations, as well as the adjustment of value-added tax (VAT), all are in line with the government's policy.(TNA)