Thailand Weakest Asean Economy in 2016 – World Bank

Thailand Weakest Asean Economy in 2016 – World Bank
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The World Bank has forecast modest economic growth in 2016 with global gross domestic product (GDP) forecast to increase by 20.83 per cent from 2.4 per cent in 2015 to 2.9 per cent this year.

However, “anaemic recovery in emerging markets” will “weigh heavily on global growth” while “simultaneous weakness in most major emerging markets is a concern for achieving the goals of poverty reduction and shared prosperity”, it says.

In a media release issued to coincide with its January 2016 Global Economic Prospects report World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said: “Developing countries should focus on building resilience to a weaker economic environment and shielding the most vulnerable.

“The benefits from reforms to governance and business conditions are potentially large and could help offset the effects of slow growth in larger economies.”

According to the World Bank global economic growth in 2015 was less than expected with falling commodity prices, flagging trade and capital flows, and episodes of financial volatility sapping economic activity.

China Growth Forecast to Slow in 2016

For 2016 the World Bank forecasts Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia as being Asean's strongest growing economies, with Malaysia and Thailand forecast to see reduced 2016 GDP growth.
For 2016 the World Bank forecasts Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia as being Asean’s strongest growing economies, with Malaysia and Thailand forecast to see reduced 2016 GDP growth.

It says firmer growth ahead will depend on continued momentum in high income countries, the stabilisation of commodity prices, and China’s gradual transition towards a more consumption and services-based growth model.

In Global Economic Prospects the World Bank says developing economies are forecast to expand by 4.8 per cent in 2016, less than expected earlier, but up 11.63 per cent from a post-crisis low of 4.3 per cent in 2015.

Looking at the year ahead the World Bank forecasts growth in China to slow by 2.90 per cent – from a 2015 China GDP growth of 6.9* per cent to 6.7 per cent in 2016 – while Russia and Brazil are expected to remain in recession.

For the East Asia and Pacific region the World Bank forecasts growth to slow by 1.56 per cent in 2016 – from 6.4* per cent in 2015 to 6.3 per cent – noting that if China’s economy is excluded the region grew by just 4.6* per cent in 2015, the same as in 2014.

Asean Member 2016 GDP Growth Forecast

For Asean member countries 2016 promises a mixed bag with the World bank forecasting Thailand’s economy to remain on the intensive care list, contracting by 20 per cent from a 2015 Thailand GDP of 2.5* per cent to just 2.0 per cent this year primarily due to domestic consumption constricted by high household debt and “subdued export growth”.

Also forecast to see a continued contraction is the Malaysia economy with 2016 Malaysia GDP forecast to contract by 4.26 per cent from 4.7* per cent GDP growth last year to 4.5 per cent growth in 2016.

At the opposite end of the economic performance chart for 2016 is Myanmar, Lao PDR, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, all of who are forecast to continue experiencing strong growth.

Leading the field for pure 2016 GDP growth is Myanmar which the World bank forecasts will see 2016 Myanmar GDP growth of 7.8 per cent, a 20 per cent increase in the 2015 Myanmar GDP growth of 5.8* per cent, followed by Lao PDR where 2016 Lao GDP is forecast to reach 7.0 per cent, an increase of 9.37 per cent over 2015 Lao GDP of 6.4* per cent.

Bringing up third place in the growth stakes is Cambodia where 2016 Cambodia GDP is expected to continue at the same 6.9 per cent the country recorded in 2015.

For Vietnam the World Bank said rapid investment, consumption, and export growth should see 2016 Vietnam GDP to increase by 6.6 per cent, a 1.54 per cent increase over 2015 Vietnam GDP growth of 6.5* per cent, while public private partnerships (PPP) and government spending are expected to be the chief drivers of the Philippines economy where 2016 Philippines GDP growth is forecast to come in at 6.4 per cent, a 10.34 per cent increase over the 2015 Philippines GDP of 5.8* per cent.

Tempering its outlook for the region the World Bank warns that economic growth in the region remains at risk from a faster than expected slowdown in China; The possibility of greater financial market volatility and restricted credit; A steep appreciation of the value of the US dollar; and a slower than expected acceleration of high income economies.

 

Download the full Global Economic Prospects report

 

*All 2015 GDP figures are estimated
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

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4 Responses to "Thailand Weakest Asean Economy in 2016 – World Bank"

  1. Rackchart   January 11, 2016 at 9:47 am

    It should be “percent” not “per cent” isn’t it?

    Reply
    • Editor   January 11, 2016 at 11:48 am

      Thanks for reading.

      percent is American English, per cent British English. AEC News Today uses Britsh English.

      Thanks for asking.

      Ed

      Reply
  2. Nicholas Acton-Bond   January 12, 2016 at 6:40 pm

    Ed that’s a fair comment, and I am a British American English Language Teacher.

    Reply
    • Webmaster   January 13, 2016 at 9:04 am

      Thanks for stopping by and having a read and taking the time to comment.

      Ed.

      Reply

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