Poll uncertainty, trade war hurting exports, investment: Somkid

[webfact]

Poll uncertainty, trade war hurting exports, investment: Somkid

By PHUWIT LIMVIPHUWAT 
THE NATION

 

File photo: Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak

 

THAILAND’S economic outlook for 2019 is “uncertain and gloomy” due to the upcoming general election and the US-China trade war, deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak warned yesterday.
 

Somkid said investors were questioning the stability of the Thai economy ahead of the election. He called it a key cause for the uncertain and pessimistic economic outlook for 2019.

 

“Investors are wondering which party will lead Thailand’s next government, who will be prime minister and whether current development schemes and policies will be continued,” he said.

 

The election uncertainty was curbing interest among both local and foreign investors, Somkid said. 

With electoral laws unveiled and a ban on political activity lifted, it had been widely believed that the often-delayed election would take place on February 24. 

 

But last week, less than two months before that date, the ruling junta again intervened, claiming post-election formalities could clash with preparations for the coronation of His Majesty the King now set for May.

 

It appears likely that the election will not take place next month and it remains uncertain what new date will be chosen. 

 

The government has shown a preference for March 24, with the election results to be formally announced after the King is enthroned on May 4-6. The Election Commission would prefer March 10 if February 24 is impossible. The final say rests with the government, which critics say could time the release of the electoral royal decree to favour its preference.

 

“We know the election will occur within the first half of this year,” Somkid said at yesterday’s Krungthai Bank seminar on “Thailand Economic Challenges 2019”. 

 

The other factor clouding the economic outlook is the ongoing US-China trade dispute, he said.

 

US President Donald Trump, he said, “has destabilised the global economy despite being able to achieve impressive domestic growth for the United States. This has a direct negative impact on export-oriented countries such as Thailand and Singapore.”

 

He cited a 5.2-per-cent year-on-year contraction in Thai exports in September, the first such setback the Kingdom had seen in 19 months, as evidence of the negative impact the US-China spat was having here. 

 

Exports contribute up to 70 per cent of Thai GDP, Somkid noted. 

 

“Furthermore, stock markets global have been at their worst since the 2008 financial crisis, largely due to the trade war. This dampens investor confidence and leads to lower consumption – another negative impact of the US-China trade war.”

 

Expansion plans on hold

 

The National Economic and Social Development Board has predicted that export growth will slow this year to a mere 4.6 per cent, down from a robust 7.2 per cent in 2018. 

 

Bank of Thailand (BoT) senior director Don Nakornthab agreed with Somkid’s assertion that the trade war was hurting both Thai exports and investment. The BoT anticipates export growth of 4.3 per cent in 2019.

 

“Investors are holding off, exporters are unsure about business prospects and manufacturers are delaying plans to expand in Southeast Asia as they wait to see whether the 90-day halt [in the US-China tariff battle] will lead to settlement of the conflict,” Don said during an interview. 

 

Despite the grim outlook, Somkid predicted that the trade war would de-escalate or be resolved by the end of the year because both Beijing and Washington were feeling negative fallout and were actively seek to end the dispute. 

 

To stimulate growth in 2019, Somkid said the next government would need to focus on reforming the country’s economic foundation and proceed with major infrastructure projects initiated under the junta.

 

He urged the new government to continue promoting e-commerce for the agricultural industry, which has remained sluggish, and to improve and extend tourism infrastructure so that travellers begin visiting more places, not just the best-known attractions.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/business/30361799

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-08

[bluesofa]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

THAILAND’S economic outlook for 2019 is “uncertain and gloomy” due to the upcoming general election and the US-China trade war, deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak warned yesterday.

Regarding 'the upcoming general election', is this because of nerves they're worried about winning, or is he trying to set the stage for cancelling it?

[ubon farang]

The only problem with the Thai economy is the government in control Go back to what you were employed as guys Soldiers to defend Thailand not run governments

[observer90210]

And of course an over inflated exchange rate of the Thai Bhat,  has noooothing to do with exports and tourism dropping fast !

[Ossy]

Poll uncertainty . . . which poll is that then? Before long, investors will be giving this sick country the barge-pole treatment . . . the nearest thing to a poll that Thailand will get unless it sorts itself out. Little chance of the NCPO pulling that off when it can't even get a grip on the problem of an election and a coronation occurring in the same decade.

[Justgrazing]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

To stimulate growth in 2019, Somkid said the next government would need to focus on reforming the country’s economic foundation and proceed with major infrastructure projects initiated under the junta.

The bit at the bottom is open to interpretation .. One being there is an assumption nay expectation of  the present incumbents that they will remain in the chair to sally forth with their economic agenda .. However disasterous that may be .. 

And the clouds are gathering on a number of fronts no mistake .. 

[Eric Loh]

Can't the minister and people understand that Prayut is busy hosting a talk-in and has no time to dwell on mundane stuff like an election. Leave him doing what he do best #nothing. 

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He called it a key cause for the uncertain and pessimistic economic outlook for 2019.

After witnessing the economic destruction caused by the 2013/2014 pro-military protests and 2014 military coup and being on PM Prayut's Cabinet for more than five years, Somkid now recognizes the key cause for the uncertain and pessimistic economic outlook for 2019?

If he had any credibility as a professional economist, he should have never joined the coup government, much less remained for the next four years of economic degradation.

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, Justgrazing said:

The bit at the bottom is open to interpretation .. One being there is an assumption nay expectation of  the present incumbents that they will remain in the chair to sally forth with their economic agenda .. However disasterous that may be .. 

And the clouds are gathering on a number of fronts no mistake .. 

Build more houses and Condos and keep raising the prices ????

[happy chappie]

Thailand 2019...the year that the crap hit the fan.the super inflated baht which they all thought was brilliant is now showing signs of biting them in the arse.

[marko kok prong]

This is not Thailand specific,articles i have been reading lately are predicting another financial crisis,high levels of personal debt in many countries the slow down in China,Trump's looming trade war.

 For instance today i read average household debt in the UK is 15,000 pounds,ichecked the graph much higher than 2008,this is not sub prime stuff,many of these debt's are for vehicle's,credit cards ect. I myself lost a large slice of money on stocks recently, Winter is coming.

[RichardColeman]

So we can add gloomey economic outlook to reasons to delay election process then.