Finance Ministry sets 17 goals

The Finance Ministry has drawn up 17 key policy initiatives for the year including reducing informal lending, expanding access to credit and overhauling the country’s tax system. Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, speaking on the ministry’s 2010 policies, said it was time to focus on strengthening the country’s fundamentals and pave the way for long-term growth as the global economic crisis was receding. The ministry forecast the economy will grow by about 3.3% this year. Higher growth is possible through improved political stability, efficient disbursement of the Thai Khem Khaeng infrastructure investment programme and a speedy resolution to the dozens of suspended industrial projects at Map Ta Phut in Rayong.