Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand's economic growth quickened in April, helped by strength in domestic demand, exports and tourism, the central bank said on May 31.
The country recorded a current account deficit of 40 million USD in April, after a surplus of 1.1 billion USD in the previous month, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) said.
April exports rose 5.8% year-on-year, while imports grew 6.4% from a year earlier, the BoT said, forecasting economic growth of 2.6% this year, after last year's 1.9% growth.
In the first quarter, the economy grew 1.5% from a year earlier, slowing from 1.7% in the prior quarter.
Minister of Finance Pichai Chunhavajira has said stimulus measures were needed as economic growth should be around 3.5% but was only expected to be 2.5% this year.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has called on the central bank to cut rates to boost economic activity, but the BoT has held rates at 2.5%, the highest in more than a decade.
The next rate review is slated for June 12.
Pichai has said he is more worried about people's access to credit than the level of interest rates./.
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