TMB's research house expects private investment to remain low and weaken economic growth this year. PANUMAS SANGUANWONGTMB Analytics, TMB Bank's research house, has trimmed its forecast for the country's economic growth to 3.3% this year from 3.5% after slashing its private investment growth projection. Amid the gloomy prospects of private investment, state investment and exports will be the main engine forces for economic growth in 2017, Mr Naris said. TMB Analytics estimated that public investment growth will accelerate to 15.1% this year from 9.9% last year largely due to big-ticket infrastructure projects under the government's roadmap. The research house also slashed its commercial lending growth forecast to 5.7% from 6.3% in 2017 in line with lower private investment estimates.

Source: Bangkok Post March 27, 2017 23:26 UTC