Home | China | World | Business Thai Economy to Grow at Least 3 Pct This Year TUE, FEB 19, 2002     The Thai government is confident that the economy will expand at least 3 percent this year as its fiscal stimulus policy starts to yield fruits and the world's economy begins to recover, the state-owned radio reported Tuesday. "Based on current data we can reach that growth rate for sure, and more if we do well in our key focus areas and if the global recovery trend goes as expected, " said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees the country's economic policies. He said the government policies laid out last year have already made their marks in the form of stronger domestic consumption. The main areas in which the government will focus its efforts this year include property, tourism, the restructuring of bad loans under the state-owned Thai Asset Management Corp (TAMC), as well as long-term reforms, especially privatization of state enterprises, according to the minister. Government officials said initial data for January this year in several key sectors of the economy confirmed early signs of recovery that appeared in the previous quarter, with car sales up almost 50 percent year-on-year, as well as surges in the sales of consumer products, building materials, cell phones and electronic goods. The Stock Exchange of Thailand index has surged nearly 25 percent so far this year, reflecting a recovery in the market confidence. Editor:Hope CCTV.com Recommend to your friend email:    China Central Television,All Rights Reserved