BANGKOK, Feb 9 – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday said she wants 2013 to be the Year of Thailand, where the country’s economy is growing and confidence will be restored.
The premier expressed this wish in her weekly televised programme “PM Yingluck Government Meets the People” on the occasion of Chinese New Year. Ms Yingluck said she wishes the Thai people health and wealth.
She said after the 2011 nationwide flooding, the country has improved in several aspects including the economy, and that confidence has been restored among the world community.
The economy is growing well due to increased purchasing power of the Thais and the inflow of foreign investment which can be seen from their requests for investment promotion from the Board of Investment (BoI), rising from Bt700 billion to Bt1.4 trllion, said Ms Yingluck.
The premier said, to make the economy grow sustainably, the government will invest in infrastructure development of Bt2.2 trillion. The projects will stimulate domestic purchasing power and prepare the country for the ASEAN Economic Community which will take effect in 2015.
Ms Yingluck however added that the government will have to clarify its investments in megaprojects to the public and concerned agencies to create better understanding, as the projects will decentralise growth to upcountry, reducing logistic costs and facilitating communication.
She said many countries have shown interest in joint ventures and 2013 will the Year of Thailand, as many world leaders will also visit the kingdom.
