The government aims to step up state investment by bringing forward state enterprises' investment projects over the next two years to next year, says Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong. Apisak: Private firms may lag behindThe move seeks to ward off potential downside risks to growth from increasing global uncertainties amid tepid private investment. Moreover, the Transport Ministry's investment will reach full throttle next year and this will be another engine driving economic growth, Mr Apisak said. Mr Apisak recently said the government intends to double investment by state enterprises to 600 billion baht next year in a fresh attempt to jump-start private investment. High foreign reserves at 3-4 times short-term debt and a low debt-to-GDP ratio would cushion the impact of global volatility, said Mr Apisak.

Source: Bangkok Post November 14, 2016 00:08 UTC