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| PM Hopes for Economic Improvement in Q2 |
| UPDATE : 23 February 2009 |
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The Prime Minister hopes that the economy will pick up during the second half of the year and that this year will bring economic recovery.
Prime MInister Abhisit Vejjajiva talked about the progress of his government in his weekly television programme. The main endeavour of his government is economic improvement about which there is still much to do, given the drop in January's export rate by 26.5 percent. This drop calls for a revision in the economy growth goal.
He was confident that the short-term economic stimulus measures would result in the recovery of the economy in the third and the fourth quarters of this year and is optimistic that the economy will close positively for the year on the whole.
After that, his government will introduce the middle-and-long-term economic stimulus plans worth 2 trillion baht over the next three to four years with major investments in transportation systems and water sources, as well as development and education development. The fund would come from the national budget, loans, and joint ventures with the private sectors.
He said 2,000 baht would be distributed to eligible workers on April 8 while the proposal to provide financial assistant for elders who are over 60 years old with no source of income has also been finalised. Each eligible elder would be given 500 baht and they can register to receive this handout from February 26 to March 15.
On the agricultural front, he said there has been progress in price-intervention programmes on rice and cassava. Cabinet has approved a plan to shift farmers' debts from financial institutions to come under the Farmer's Debt Rehabilitation Fund. Follow-up and monitoring would be conducted to help solve farmers' problems.
The PM also expressed readiness in hosting the 14th ASEAN Summit which will take place from February 27 to March 1 and he said this is an opportunity to regain foreigners' confidence in Thailand.
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