On 1 April 2014, EABC hosted a business luncheon themed “2014 Thailand Economic Outlook Amidst Its Internal Struggle – What to Expect?”, where we welcomed more than 70 guests from EUD, MS Embassies, EABC Board of Directors and members. Sharing their outlook at the luncheon were Dr. Kirida Bhaopichitr, the World Bank’s Country Economist for Thailand, and Dr. Somchai Jitsuchon, Research Director at Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Dr. Kirida expressed optimism in the Thai economy in the longer term, despite the immediate term deceleration. With the current political uncertainties and high household debt, the economy is forecasted by the World Bank to expand around 3% in 2014. Concerns about the declining trend in overtime employment in the non-agricultural sector and BOI applications were raised by Dr. Somchai, although he remained hopeful that the economic growth would rebound to around 5% in 2015, from 3% in 2014, if the political impasse is cleared in due course.

In the photo (from left to right): Dr.Thavirap Tantiwongse (EABC/GlaxoSmithKline), Mr.Antonio Berenguer (EUD), H. E. Dénes Tomaj (Ambassador of Hungary), Ms.Lyn Kok (EABC/Standard Chartered Bank Thailand), Mr.Rolf-Dieter Daniel (EABC/Staedtler Thailand), H.E.Rolf Schulze (Ambassador of Germany), Dr.Kirida Bhaopichitr (World Bank), Dr.Somchai Jitsuchon (TDRI), Mr.Jan Erikssons (EABC/Spica), H.E.Klas Molin (Ambassador of Sweden), H.E.Vítězslav Grepl (Ambassador of Czech Republic), , Mr.Nigel Gould-Davies (EABC/BG Group), H.E.Marc Michielsen (Ambassador of Belgium).

You can download the presentations of Dr.Kirida and Dr.Somchai from the attachments below.