Govt speeding up megaprojects : Transport Ministry plans worth B1.94trn . The government is expediting the Transport Ministry’s mega-investment projects worth almost 2 trillion baht to stimulate financial flows and deal with anticipated volatility in the global economy next year. Bangkok Post
Shipments down 4% in August on weak demand : Strong baht and glut of agricultural items on global market dim prospects . Thai exports dipped 4% in August from a year earlier after an unexpected rise the previous month, falling prey to global economic uncertainty stemming from trade tensions and weak worldwide demand. Bangkok Post
B100bn-plus sought for rural stimulus : The Finance Ministry estimates that more than 100 billion baht is needed to fund a strategy of sustainable development for the rural economy to thoroughly cover 30 million poor people in the segment. Bangkok Post
Handout scheme reaches 1m quota : The government’s 1,000-baht cash giveaway and the 15%-cash rebate scheme received overwhelming support from people on the first day of registration, with the first million recipients signing up in less than 14 hours. Bangkok Post
Cabinet lowers public debt ceiling : Capped at 42.76% of GDP for fiscal 2020 . The cabinet yesterday approved a public debt management plan for fiscal 2020 that calls for the country’s average ratio of public debt to GDP to have a ceiling of 42.76%, below the 60% set by the Finance Ministry’s fiscal sustainability framework. Bangkok Post
MPC keeps policy rate unchanged : GDP outlook cut for third time in 2019 . The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held the policy rate steady yesterday but again slashed its economic growth forecast, from 3.3% to 2.8%. Bangkok Post
Apirat says B12bn of US arms ‘a necessity’ : Army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong yesterday defended a plan to procure eight helicopters and related equipment worth about 12 billion baht from the US, insisting the proposed purchase was above board. Bangkok Post
Govt mulls end of fast train plan : Massive construction costs repel investors . The government may scrap three highspeed rail projects after being spurned by private investors, a source at the Transport Ministry said. Bangkok Post
FPO: Export drop of 0.9%-plus spells doom for 3% GDP growth : This year’s export contraction must not exceed 0.9% if Thailand’s GDP growth is to reach 3%, says the Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office (FPO). Bangkok Post
Thailand falls one place in digital index : Thailand slipped one place to 40th in the World Digital Competitiveness Index 2019, partly because of a lack of public access to digital public services and subpar participation in public decision-making. Bangkok Post
