Thai PM sees 2026 economic growth beating 2.1 per cent projection
Anutin Charnvirakul has asked the national economic planning council to review its calculations before deciding the size of any upward revision.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expects Thailand’s economy to expand by more than 2.1 per cent in 2026, citing stronger investment from overseas, rising exports and higher tax collections.
During an interview on the “Talk with Anutin’s Cabinet” programme, he said foreign investment for the opening half of 2026 exceeded the previous full-year total by about 30 per cent. He also reported export growth of more than 20 per cent.
Anutin said he had directed the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) to re-examine the data, assumptions and calculations underpinning its growth estimate. The scale of any increase to the forecast would be determined after that review.
The prime minister, who also holds the interior portfolio, said receipts from both corporate and personal income taxes had increased. Government stimulus had also put more money into circulation, he said, adding that dependable economic projections mattered for financing costs and investor confidence.
To draw investment, Anutin said Thailand was giving greater prominence to its transport connections, logistics capacity and access to ASEAN customers, instead of focusing mainly on low labour and electricity costs. He said efforts were also under way to deepen investment and trade links with the United States, Europe, the United Arab Emirates and Central Asia.
Anutin also outlined plans to support clean energy and let households generate power for their own consumption, with excess electricity sold to the state grid.
