BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira criticized Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput for indicating reluctance to continue reducing the policy interest rate in a recent interview with foreign media. This statement came after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to lower the interest rate by 0.25% on October 16.
Pichai emphasized that such public statements could disadvantage traders by revealing positions in the market. He cautioned against making clear statements about future interest rate changes, suggesting that decisions should align with the current economic situation rather than preemptively signaling intentions.
In addition, Pichai announced that he has scheduled discussions with the BoT regarding the inflation framework, set to take place in the coming days. He acknowledged the BoT’s desire to maintain the inflation target within the existing range of 1-3% and indicated that further dialogue would be necessary to discuss the rationale behind this target.
