'I understand poor people," says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. "I was from a poor family with 10 siblings. Som, my oldest brother, woke up every day at 4am to help with my dad's work. My siblings faced a rough upbringing, but I had better luck.
"As the youngest sibling, I left to live with my aunt when I was five, which allowed me to receive the education that brought me where I am today."
Before Mr Somkid became a deputy prime minister, Thailand's economy grew at a modest 0.8% clip in 2014. In 2015, when he began overseeing economic issues, GDP shot up 2.9%, followed by 3.2% growth in 2016. The National Economic and Social Development Board forecasts economic growth of 3.9% in 2017.
"It's not easy to manage the Thai economy, because a less-than-optimal global economy depressed exports and lowered oil and crop prices at a time when Thai manufacturers could no longer compete in the world market," Mr Somkid says.
He credits Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha with tackling many of the obstacles that stood in the way of enacting appropriate economic policies, including EU complaints of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; an ICAO red flag on the country's aviation safety regime; and a low position in the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking.
"Last year was the time to overcome obstacles and prepare for the future," Mr Somkid says. "Next year will see the rise of Asia, and Thailand is in a prime position to ride this wave. We are in an upward trend. Thailand is taking off and regaining confidence."
Mr Somkid says Thailand is taking off and regaining confidence.
The government has been quite successful at managing the economy, he says, adding that macro-indicators provide no cause for concern. In his view, GDP, inflation and the ratio of public debt to GDP (now 42.5-43%, down from 45-46% in 2014) are all in the right place.
Thai competitiveness and the ease of doing business have improved in the past three years, according to metrics by the World Economic Forum, IMD and the World Bank.
"The government will continue to strengthen the country's competitiveness," Mr Somkid says. "I hope the coming reforms across sectors are reflected in next year's rankings."
According to the World Bank, Thailand has succeeded in reducing extreme poverty (defined as those earning US$2-3 per day) and expanding the middle class. Moving forward, the country will seek to narrow the gap between rich and poor and increase the size of the middle class, he says.
The government expects private investment to recover next year, after the government improves policies to increase the ease of doing business and the Board of Investment (BoI) attracts large corporations and SMEs.
"Supporting Thailand's development next year will require targeted investments," Mr Somkid says.
Infrastructure development, including mass transit projects, is due to accelerate next year. The Eastern Economic Corridor law, to be enacted in January, will build confidence in the private sector and assure foreign companies looking to invest in targeted industries in the EEC.
"The government pledged to accelerate approval for the EEC and every other significant infrastructure project next year, which are set to become the backbone of the country," Mr Somkid says.
Applications to the BoI this year are expected to hit the 600-billion-baht target, and the board just improved the investment policy for the EEC in a bid to boost the already high interest of Japanese and Chinese investors.
Mr Somkid enjoys a tender moment with grandson Naris.
The government will also continue building strategic cooperation with the EU, China and other nations. High-ranking committee meetings between Thailand and China will be organised next year.
Mr Somkid hopes to improve cooperation among economic agencies, since Gen Prayut has entrusted him with supervising all economic ministries, including the ministries of Agriculture, Commerce, Tourism, Transport, Industry, Science and Technology, Finance and Foreign Affairs, plus the Board of Investment, the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
"I was authorised to supervise the agencies in order to facilitate better integration at all levels." he says. "In dealing with plunging farm product prices, relevant agencies must work together."
Meetings between the Agriculture Ministry and the Commerce Ministry will be organised in the near future in order to solve farm price quandaries and assist low-income citizens.
Officials at the Agriculture Ministry will take responsibility for rice, rubber, palm and tapioca, while the government will implement short-term measures to amplify those efforts.
"Measures to improve farm product price problems should not distort market mechanisms," Mr Somkid says.
The government seeks to tackle farming challenges in early 2018, he says, as well as help community businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Efforts in agriculture will be carried out under the Pracha Rat (People's State) initiative, while private firms will be recruited to help low-income Thais.
Helping the poor while maintaining sustainable development is a long-term project. The Agriculture, Commerce and Interior ministries, plus the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), will cooperate on a comprehensive package to relieve farmer debt.
The package will let 3.96 million farmers, who are among the 11.4 million poorest people in the country, receive state welfare and financial support through the welfare card scheme.
"The assistance package will be comprehensive and include individual debt solutions, career rehabilitation and a New Year gift for farmers," Mr Somkid says.
The government will use banks and local officials under the Interior Ministry to survey the debt of low-income individuals, and the government will then implement a career rehabilitation and debt-solution plan.
In the short term, the government will hold a "clinic for the poor" to help low-income earners increase their income and transfer their informal debts to the BAAC. Farmers who have taken out loans via formal financial channels will see their debts restructured by banks.
The government will launch measures to support SMEs and tourism in underprivileged communities.
On Dec 19, the cabinet approved 240 billion baht in new measures, including soft loans, to help make technology affordable for SMEs and push forward the government's Thailand 4.0 policy.
The government will continue developing the country's digital economy in 2018, Mr Somkid says. Officials laid the foundation for Thailand's digital economy in 2017, and broadband internet is expected to be installed nationwide in the coming year.
"In 2018, the internet and other technologies will be enlisted in support of low-income citizens, the general public and SMEs," he says. "Gen Prayut ordered [state bodies] to use internet broadband to benefit society and the economy."
Furthermore, Suvit Maesincee, the science and technology minister, will work with industry and agriculture officials to use technology to restructure the farm sector.
"The development of big data for agriculture is at the heart of our efforts to restructure the farm sector," Mr Somkid says. "The Agriculture Ministry will not only focus on prices, but also on analysing what crops should be grown in each location, a decision in which big data will play a central role."
He also says the budget won't be an issue.
"It is my duty and that of the Finance Ministry to provide funds for projects geared towards assisting 'common' people," Mr Somkid says.
