Illustrative image (Source: Reuters)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s consumer confidence in March 2017 climbed for thefourth consecutive month to the highest level in two years, announced theUniversity of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Economic and Business ForecastingCentre.
Therise was driven by an improvement in exports, tourism and higher price of keycommodities like palm oil and rubber, according to Prof. Thanawat Phonvichai,Director of the centre.
However,agricultural product prices remained low, while the global economy is unstable.Phonvichai forecast Thai economic growth this year at 3.6 percent and exports torise about 2-3 percent, while inflation rate will stay around 1.6-2 percent.
TheThai government recently announced a plan to help small retailers to boost theeconomy. The Ministry of Commerce on April 11 estimated some 400,000traditional, retail businesses across the country need support, with bigdistributors dominating the market.
Thenew project will connect retail and wholesale communities, said BangjongjittAngsusingh, Director–General of the Ministry of Commerce’s Business DevelopmentDepartment.
Underthe project, enterprises will be provided with training on business management,storage and stock management as well as shop image development, the director said.
Aspart of the government’s efforts to reduce living cost, the department hasencouraged producers to cut prices of some products under the “Prache Rath: LowCost of Living” Project.-VNA
