Thailand’s projected economic expansion for the coming year is under threat due to potential delays in the national budget, driven by ongoing political instability, according to Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, the outgoing governor of the Bank of Thailand. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin in Bangkok, he highlighted growing concerns about 2026, noting that while the central bank anticipates a 1.7% increase in GDP—down from an estimated 2% in the current year—the forecast could weaken further if legislative gridlock postpones fiscal planning. The delay could hinder public spending and dampen investor confidence at a critical time for recovery. n n— news from Bloomberg
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Bank of Thailand Chief Sees Economic Risk in Political Drift
Thailand’s economic growth outlook next year is looking increasingly at risk amid a possible delay in the budget because of the country’s political deadlock, according to outgoing central bank Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput . n n”Our worry is next year,” Sethaput said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin in Bangkok on Wednesday. The Bank of Thailand forecasts 1.7% growth in 2026 from about 2% this year but “with all this uncertainty, there’s some risk to that” if the government delays next year’s budget.