Thailand’s economy, future infrastructure investments and ASEAN connectivity

Asia House is pleased to welcome Thailand’s Finance Minister Sommai Phasee to give a speech followed by a Q&A session and discussion on the outlook for the country’s economy a year since the army took control of the government to end political unrest.

Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy grew at its slowest pace in three years in 2014 and the central bank has recently cut its 2015 forecast to 3.0 per cent. Exports, which account for over 60 per cent of the economy, have been falling and domestic demand remains weak.

To address this the military-led government has set in motion a series of investment and economic reforms to foster growth and competitiveness. Earlier this year, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), a government agency that aims to attract direct investment, approved a seven-year investment strategy which includes a mix of non-tax, merit-based incentives and tax benefits. Thailand’s Cabinet also approved the Transport Infrastructure Development Plan 2015-2022 in March to be used as a framework for investment and operation.

Mr Sommai Phasee was appointed Minister of Finance in September 2014. He has spent most of his career at the Finance Ministry, where he has held various posts including Deputy Minister of Finance from 2006 to 2007 and Director-General at the Fiscal Policy Office from 1997 to 1998. Join us on July 17 to get insights into Thailand’s economic and political prospects.

For further information or to express an interest in attending, please contact: Jeremy Wimble, Business & Policy Team at jeremy.wimble@asiahouse.co.uk or call 0207 307 5439.

Registration will open at 09.30am and the event will start at 10.00am.

To read more about the Thai economy click here.