Bangkok: The Prime Minister updated on economic issues and the future of the agricultural sector, two important policies to improve the Thai economy, on the program "Thai Opportunity with Prime Minister Paethongtarn" this Sunday, 2 March. You must follow.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, spoke about the overall picture of the Thai economy after the release of the GDP figures or Gross National Product of the 4th quarter of 2024, which grew by 3.2%, resulting in the whole year growing by 2.5%, higher than 2023 at 0.5%, and expressed her opinion that although the overall Thai economy has not grown as much as it should, according to our potential, there is a tendency for it to improve and it will continue to improve. She also revealed how the government will solve the economic problems from now on.
By giving importance to two main policies: Thai agriculture and attracting foreign investment, two important policies that are tools to improve the Thai economy in the administration of the current government.
The Prime Minister expressed his vision in the agricultural sector and emphasized that Thailand has more than 10 million farmers, with more than 47% of the agricultural area, but the Thai agricultural sector accounts for only 9% of the GDP. Raising farmers' income is a big and challenging issue. If Thai agriculture can be changed, it will raise the Thai economy as a whole. He emphasized changing the way of thinking and perspective, with a concrete plan.
In particular, serious research can be applied in practice, including planting methods, analyzing global demand to develop plant varieties, raising animals, and fishing, so that hard-working farmers can produce products that are worth their effort. Regarding the development of the Thai agricultural market, it emphasizes using Thailand's strength as the world's leading fruit exporter, that we can set good fruit standards to generate additional income, along with supporting new economic crops, tea, coffee, and cocoa, to be grown more in Thailand because these are markets that continue to grow, and using Thai food that is popular around the world to develop Thai agriculture, so that Thai restaurants abroad use more vegetable and plant ingredients from Thailand. All of this is to prepare Thai farmers to adjust their thinking together, prepare to develop their skills, and develop their skills for the new opportunities that are coming.
In the foreign investment sector, statistics from the BOI in 2024 show that foreigners have requested to invest in Thailand, more than 1 trillion baht, the highest in 10 years. Most of them are in future industries, such as semiconductors, automotive and EV parts, agriculture, food processing, and the energy industry. The Prime Minister explained the opportunities that have arisen and how Thai people should prepare to seize these opportunities. You can watch and listen to the program 'Thai Opportunities with Prime Minister Paethongtarn' on March 2, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on NBT 2HD, and watch on MCOT HD from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and on the Radio Thailand, Public Relations Department network nationwide.