BANGKOK, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak on Thursday asked Thais to have more confidence in the Thai government and Thai economy, instead of focusing only on a promised general election yet to come.
Attending the launch ceremony of Huawei's Openlab Bangkok, Somkid said the current Thai government has done well in keeping Thai economy stable.
"Our GDP growth is 0.8 percent three years ago and now it is 3.3 percent," he said.
The government is determined to reform and modernize the kingdom, adding that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, former army chief, came out three years ago just to reform the country in different areas, Somkid said.
He took the World Competitiveness Ranking released recently by Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development as reference to support his remarks since Thailand's overall ranking went up from 28 to 27.
Thailand also showed progress in economic performance, government efficiency and infrastructure according to the ranking, Somkid said, adding "the foreign institute gave us a clear answer while some people just keep saying Thai economy is awful."
He also pointed out that Thailand will show better performance in the future, as the cabinet just approved the Pink and Yellow metro line of Bangkok, will approve a double-track railway in three months, and will extend internet service to all villages around the country in 2017.
"We will do our best and help the poor, we have to do it together, but not just get excited when hearing the word election, we should consider the benefits of our country" Somkid emphasized.
According to the National Institute of Development Administration poll conducted in mid May, the top reason that some Thais are unsatisfied with the current junta is their inability to solve economic problems.
According to the World Bank, the Thai economy, the second largest in Southeast Asia now, will expand 3.3 percent a year on average from 2017 to 2019, which is slow when compared with its rapidly growing neighboring countries.
