PM Orders GDP Growth Above 2.5% in 2026

Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on February 19 told senior ministers that Thailand’s GDP growth must exceed 2.5% this year, signalling pressure on the economic team to outperform official forecasts. He summoned Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanpraphat, Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob, and Justice Minister Pol. Gen. Ruttaphon Naowarat for the meeting, according to Amarin TV.

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The directive follows data released earlier this week by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), which reported that Thailand’s economy grew by 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025. This exceeded earlier projections and marked an improvement from 1.2% growth in the previous quarter.

“I hope the next quarter will see continued growth, and I believe things will improve,” Anutin said. The NESDC also reported that overall economic growth for 2025 reached 2.4%, reflecting a stronger recovery in manufacturing and investment despite continued weakness in tourism.

NESDC Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan said investment and exports were the main drivers of growth in the final quarter of 2025. Total investment rose by 8.1%, with private investment up 6.5% and public investment increasing by 13.3%, while exports of goods and services expanded by 5.6%.

The tourism-related services sector declined by 6.9%, contrasting with an 11.2% rise in construction. Household spending was supported by government stimulus measures, with durable goods consumption increasing by 12.2% and vehicle sales climbing 26.4%, largely due to higher electric vehicle purchases before state support schemes ended.

Budget disbursement rose by 39.5%, driven by front-loading measures in the final quarter aimed at stimulating the economy through seminars and public spending initiatives. Looking ahead, the NESDC projects growth in 2026 between 1.5% and 2.5%, centred at 2.0%, supported by recovering global trade and sustained export momentum.

Thainewsroom also reported that during the same meeting, Anutin asked the Justice Minister for an update on a case involving a network allegedly using electricity illegally for Bitcoin mining in Samut Sakhon province. Those implicated include an assistant governor of the Provincial Electricity Authority and a deputy regional manager. Anutin said the case had resulted in enormous electricity losses and instructed that the perpetrators be prosecuted without leniency. He ordered that all those involved be brought to justice.

Key Takeaways

• The Prime Minister has set a target for GDP growth to exceed 2.5% in 2026, above the NESDC’s central forecast of 2.0%.

• Thailand’s economy grew 2.5% in Q4 2025 and 2.4% overall for the year, driven by investment and exports.

• Authorities are pursuing a Bitcoin mining electricity theft case in Samut Sakhon, with senior officials implicated.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thainewsroom 21 Feb 2026