Showing 1 - 10 of 17
Why Thailand must protect its international reserves
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 04/11/2015
» On the basis of its international reserve holdings of over $160 billion (4.4 trillion baht), Thailand has been a member of the rich-nation club for many years now.
More effort needed on sufficiency economy
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 07/10/2015
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's trip to New York to attend the United Nations summit generated a great deal of attention among Thais, including those in the United States. Some organised a protest near the United Nations headquarters while many more showed up to express their support. A large number who could not go to New York gathered in Los Angeles to air their views.
Somkid's stimulus plan an invitation to more debt
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 02/09/2015
» The cabinet on Tuesday endorsed the emergency economic stimulus package proposed by the new team under the leadership of economic czar Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
Cabinet shuffle unlikely to kickstart growth
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 05/08/2015
» As the economy continues to stagnate, speculation is getting more intense as to when the prime minister will replace some - or perhaps all - ministers in charge of the economy. Changing personnel may pacify the critics, but it is unlikely to change anything for the better. Both external and internal factors are working against any possibility of achieving robust growth in the near future.
Seeds of failure sown deep into national reform targets
Oped, Sawai Boonma, Published on 06/05/2015
» This month marks a year since the military took over the reins of government. According to its roadmap, the military has a few more months before it hands power back to an elected government. It will then be up to the new government to complete the reforms initiated over the past year.
Brazil's energy industry woes offer cautionary tales
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 04/03/2015
» Compared to other leading developing countries, including the big four often grouped together and labeled Bric — Brazil, Russia, India and China — Brazil is much better off and should be doing far better.
Big ideas like Kra Canal take guts to follow through on
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 07/01/2015
» With attention focused largely on holiday celebrations in the past couple of weeks, most Thais probably missed the news about a milestone event in Nicaragua just before Christmas. The event was a groundbreaking ceremony, commencing the construction of the Nicaragua Canal linking the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean.
Sufficiency economy doesn't mean self-sufficiency
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 03/12/2014
» Since the head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) announced some six months ago that he would use the sufficiency economy (SE) as the guiding light for governing the country, I again have seen discussions equating SE with self-sufficiency. It's not.
An end to wasteful spending is the key to real reform
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 03/09/2014
» The National Legislative Assembly is considering a 2.57-trillion-baht budget for the next fiscal year proposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). This budget will incur a national deficit of 250 billion baht. Members of the National Reform Assembly — the body charged with spelling out reforms to be undertaken in 11 areas stipulated by the NCPO — have not yet been selected, so how the new budget will be adjusted to accommodate the changes is not clear. If the government is serious about its reform it must start during the coming fiscal year. That should lead to a lower deficit than projected.
Coup-makers must lead by example
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 04/06/2014
» Every military intervention is costly and the current one is no exception. It costs a lot of money to keep soldiers on the streets, and their presence spooks tourists and investors, and interrupts the process of democratic development.