Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand, January 23.//Reuters
Thailand’s central bank chief, under fire from the prime minister for not cutting rates, said slower-than-expected economic growth was not a crisis as portrayed by the government, nor would it be revived by its quick-hit stimulus measures.
The Bank of Thailand’s current policy rate is broadly neutral, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput told Reuters on Tuesday ahead of the central bank’s next rate meeting on Feb. 7, adding that the country was not facing a deflationary situation.
His comments came after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin – a real estate mogul and political newcomer – urged the central bank to cut the policy rate, which is at a decade-high of 2.50%, to help revive the economy.
“If you want to raise the long-term potential growth…
