THAILAND’S economy is still expected to contract by 7%-9% this year although exports could shrink less than previously projected as the coronavirus pandemic remains a risk, a group of the country’s top business associations said yesterday.
The group now predicts exports will drop 8%-10%, rather than fall 10%-12% as seen earlier, after recent improved shipments, according to a joint standing committee on commerce, industry and banking.
Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy posted its deepest fall in over two decades in the second quarter as the outbreak hammered the key tourism and export sectors, which accounted for about 60% of GDP last year.
The economy should continue to recover later this year, helped by the country’s Covid-19 controls and government stimulus measures, according to the Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman Kalin Sarasin
“But the fourth quarter is a challenge as there are new outbreaks in several countries and we are worried that could be a problem for exports in future,” he said during a briefing. – Oct 8, 2020
