Thai deficit to fall in 1997<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand's current account deficit in 1997 is
\nexpected to narrow to between 6.5 and 7.0 percent of gross
\ndomestic product (GDP) from 8.0 percent this year, a finance
\nministry official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The 1997 current account deficit is expected to fall by
\nbetween 40 and 60 billion baht (US$1.6 and $2.4 billion) from
\nthis year, said Somchai Ruchupun, secretary general of the
\nministry's fiscal policies department.<\/p>\n
Somchai said the 1997 deficit will fall, despite a slowdown in
\nprivate investment, as government investment continues to
\naccelerate.<\/p>\n
He said the government was already committed to a number of
\nlarge infrastructure projects and it would be wasteful to defer
\nthem.<\/p>\n
The government would continue to control consumption
\nexpenditure to help finance the current account deficit and will
\nalso cut non-productive investment, he said.<\/p>\n
Thailand's current account deficit in 1995 stood at 337.6
\nbillion baht, or 8.1 percent of GDP, according to the Bank of
\nThailand.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thai-deficit-to-fall-in-1997-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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