Thailand's public debt drops to 42% of GDP

BANGKOK, Dec 22 – Thailand’s public debt as of the end of October stood at Bt 4.201 trillion or 42.01 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), down Bt29.42 billion from the previous month, according to Public Debt Management Office Director-General Chakkris Parapuntakul.

Of this, Bt2.89 trillion are loans entered into directly by the government, down Bt15.83 billion, Bt1.07 trillion are debts incurred by non-financial institution state enterprises, down Bt11.61 billion, Bt175.2 billion are debts of state-owned financial institutions guaranteed by the government, down Bt1.98 billion, and Bt62.09 billion are debts incurred by the Financial Institutions Development Fund, down Bt8.23 million.

Mr Chakris said that other state agencies have no outstanding debt.

He said the decline in loans sought directly by the government stemmed mostly from redemption of fiscal bills worth Bt37.29 billion.

US dollar-denominated outstanding debt increased by $54.91 million due to the volatility of the currency exchange rate.

The loan drawdown in Japanese yen was lower than the redemption by 1.229 billion yen or $15.23 million.

The debt incurred by non-financial institution state enterprises dropped because the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority and the National Housing Authority redeemed bonds worth Bt2 billion.

In addition, the Expressway Authority of Thailand issued Bt1 billion in bonds and redeemed bonds worth Bt2.4 billion. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-12-22

waiting patiently for the anti-Thai brigade to march in and claim that all published figures are fraudulent, the economy is on the verge of collapsing and the Baht falling in the abyss vs. <insert preferred currency>.

waiting patiently for the anti-Thai brigade to march in and claim that all published figures are fraudulent, the economy is on the verge of collapsing and the Baht falling in the abyss vs. <insert preferred currency>.

Seasons Greetings Herr Doktor. Would you happen to know if all new issuances of public and "state enterprise" debt are denominated in Baht? TIA

waiting patiently for the anti-Thai brigade to march in and claim that all published figures are fraudulent, the economy is on the verge of collapsing and the Baht falling in the abyss vs. <insert preferred currency>.

Seasons Greetings Herr Doktor. Would you happen to know if all new issuances of public and "state enterprise" debt are denominated in Baht? TIA

seasons greetings returned LRB. of course there is public debt denominated in other currencies too. but i assume this debt is consolidated and expressed in Baht. if not than one could indeed label the "42% of GDP" as bullshitting people.

p.s. actual government debt denominated in other currencies than THB is relatively low. have no idea how the situation is with state enterprises. CIA factbook states for 2009 debt = 44.9% of GDP which tallies with the IMF figures.

waiting patiently for the anti-Thai brigade to march in and claim that all published figures are fraudulent, the economy is on the verge of collapsing and the Baht falling in the abyss vs. <insert preferred currency>.

Seasons Greetings Herr Doktor. Would you happen to know if all new issuances of public and "state enterprise" debt are denominated in Baht? TIA

seasons greetings returned LRB. of course there is public debt denominated in other currencies too. but i assume this debt is consolidated and expressed in Baht. if not than one could indeed label the "42% of GDP" as bullshitting people.

p.s. actual government debt denominated in other currencies than THB is relatively low. have no idea how the situation is with state enterprises. CIA factbook states for 2009 debt = 44.9% of GDP which tallies with the IMF figures.

This explains the strong baht and the ability of the govt. to spend billions in support of Thai farmers, isn't this the way that governments are supposed to run?

I'm amazed that some people think that a government should make a profit!

waiting patiently for the anti-Thai brigade to march in and claim that all published figures are fraudulent, the economy is on the verge of collapsing and the Baht falling in the abyss vs. <insert preferred currency>.

For once in a blue moon, I find myself agreeing with what Mr Worf has to say.

Any country that's in debt up to its eyeballs is failing its people and putting it into the murky territory of foreign ownership.

Something Thailand hopefully will never have to endure