The Thai Cabinet has endorsed four measures to promote a 'stable' expansion of the economy, after signals surfaced indicating the national economy is slowing down and the export sector is facing a headwind from the global economic situation.

They include supporting private sector consumption by allowing juristic persons to deduct twice the amount of their actual seminar expenses on their tax returns; and spurring private sector investment by allowing businesses that invest in modifying or buying equipment to deduct 50 percent of the equipment's depreciation value in the first year.

The two other measures call for stimulation of state sector spending by speeding up budget disbursement, and promotion of export.

Thai Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong expressed his confidence that the four measures will help the Thai economy expand by another percentage point, from the previously forecast of 4-4.5 percent.-VNA/NNT