The survey on the economic and industrial outlook in 2017 covered 45 major industries and 10 industrial institutes with respondents from more than 1,000 companies. In a previous survey, only 25% of respondents thought the economic expansion would continue. The EEC is expected to increase investment in eastern Thailand, where there is strong potential to create technology transfers and improve industry. Some 16.3% of survey respondents still believed that the Thai economy may contract in 2017 due to persistent negative factors, Assoc Prof Kamphol said. Other risks that would weigh on the Thai economy are the bank's strict regulations on loan lending that could force Thai manufacturers into a liquidity crunch.

Source: Bangkok Post January 18, 2017 00:17 UTC