BANGKOK, Nov 18 (TNA) – Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday assured senior officials and top executives of the private and public sectors from Germany that the Thai economy would enjoy a growth of 6-6.5% this year.

The premier gave the assurance in his speech delivered here at the 10th Asia-Pacific Meeting of German Industry and Trade, where German Economic Affair and Labor Minister Wolfgang Clement and more than 100 leading businessmen attended,

He said his government had worked hard in an effort to restore confidence in the country’s economy in the past four years.

Its perseverance proved successful, as the Thai economy had strongly recovered from the economic crisis in mid 1997.

Currently, Thailand is one of Asian countries which enjoy the highest economic growth.

It is projected that the Thai economy will expand at a range of 6-6.5% this year.

He said Thailand had given the private sector of Germany opportunities to join in the promotion of peace and development in the region and sub-region.

For instance, it is given a partial role in helping develop the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) among Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The project was initiated with an aim to narrow the economic gap in the region, and to strengthen the ASEAN economic community, noted the Thai leader.

He said Thailand had sought cooperation and partnership with the developed countries in the development of the project. (TNA) – E005

He also pointed out that balconies higher than the 15th floor make for better suicides when it all goes tits up!