BANGKOK : Thailand's economy is still expected to grow 3.5per cent-4.5per cent this year driven by fiscal policy, exports and investment, despite an outbreak of the Omicron coronavirus variant remaining a challenge, the finance minister said on Thursday.
After earlier 1.5 trillion baht borrowing plans, the government can still borrow a further 10per cent of gross domestic product if needed, he said. With the price of goods rising, he said the government would try to keep inflation within its 1per cent-3per cent target range. The central bank expects GDP to show growth of almost 1per cent in 2021, and 3.4per cent this year, which was recently trimmed from 3.9per cent following the Omicron outbreak, he said. Official 2021 and fourth-quarter GDP data is due next month.