Economy to turn positive in Q4

BANGKOK, 22 November 2009 (NNT) – The country’s economy in the fourth quarter of 2009 will definitely turn positive, according to the Prime Minister.

Regarding the official announcement on the economic figures for the third quarter of this year by the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) due tomorrow, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stated during his weekly talk show “Confidence in Thailand with Prime Minister Abhisit”, that the domestic economy in the fourth quarter this year will end with positive figures.

He expressed confidence that the economy should expand by 3 to 3.5%. Furthermore, the unemployment rate has significantly improved by dropping to 1.2%, or approximately 460,000 people. This indicated that the economy has currently bottomed out, said the Prime Minister, adding that the country’s production output increased to 65% while the tourism sector experienced a growth of 17 to 20%, and would likely go up in a continual pace.

In addition, he said the export sector in the third quarter would contract less than before, and believed that it will turn positive in November and December.