The Bangkok Post quoted JSCCIB ChairmanSupant Mongkolsuthree as saying that even the Thai government’s plan to reopenThailand by allowing vaccinated foreign tourists to visit Phuket withoutquarantine later this year may not be enough to restore the domestic economy.
Exports appear to have a positive outlookas the group believes they will grow 5-7 percent, up from its 4-6 percentestimate.
However, the JSCCIB has maintained its 1-2percent inflation rate prediction.
Supant, who is also chairman of theFederation of Thai Industries, said that as the third wave of COVID-19 remainsvolatile, economic recovery may take a long time as people's purchasing powerand employment have been affected.
The worst COVID-19 outbreak so far inThailand has dealt a heavy blow to economic sentiment. The JSCCIB has urged thegovernment to speed up spending under its plan to borrow an additional 700billion THB (22.3 billion USD) to revitalise the economy.
The Bank of Thailand said that the Thaifinancial system has become more vulnerable due to negative shocks from therecent COVID-19 outbreak./.