Thai PM to keep pressing for rate cut, seeks central bank chief meeting

THAI Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Thursday (Feb 22) said he would continue pushing the central bank to cut interest rates and would meet its governor again to discuss the issue at an appropriate time.

Srettha said there was space for easing and the current rate of 2.50 per cent, a 10-year-high, was hurting the public and could exacerbate Thailand’s stubbornly high household debt levels.

“With 2.5 per cent, there is still plenty of room if there is any crisis,” he told reporters.

He said a cut of 25 basis points should not be a problem for the central bank in driving its policies.

On Tuesday, Srettha also asked the central bank to cut rates before its next scheduled meeting on April 10, saying the economy was at a “critical” stage.

Srettha, who is also finance minister, has been at loggerheads with the central bank over the direction of monetary policy, repeatedly saying rate cuts will help an economy he describes as being in crisis, as it confronts high household debt and China’s slowdown.

SEE ALSO

Thai rate-cut case backed by investors amid government pressure

Thai central bank head rejects PM’s call for urgent rate cut

Asean Intelligence

Get insights into businesses across South-east Asia

Get the free report

Thailand’s household debt ratio has been hovering at about 90 per cent of gross domestic product.

The central bank chief has openly disagreed with Srettha and said Thailand’s issues were structural and cutting rates or pumping stimulus into the economy, as the government is proposing, would not address weaknesses. REUTERS