BANGKOK, 5 June 2015 – Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula has claimed that the present administration had made the economy expand by 5% while pledging to prevent energy shortage in Thailand.
The deputy premier on Thursday said the Thai economic growth in the first quarter 2014 was -0.4%, the second quarter 0.9% and the third quarter 1%. After the Prayut Chan-o-ocha took office, the fourth quarter growth increased to 2.1% and the first quarter this year 3%. The economy had been continuously recovering despite exports’ 2.5% negative growth rate, the deputy PM said.
M.R. Pridiyathorn emphasized that the government sought to improve three foundations of the Thai economy, including the industrial sector, tax structure and digital economy. Once the three foundations were more solid, the Thai economic growth rate would like stand at 5%, he said.
As for concerns over energy shortage, the deputy PM said it was necessary for the government to find new energy sources, confirming he would make sure that the best options would be selected.
