The chairman of Saha Group, a leading consumer goods conglomerate, says the government should invest in infrastructure.
"The government should avoid short-term thinking and instead focus on long-term infrastructure investment," said Boonsithi Chokwatana, chairman of Saha Group.
He said current investment in infrastructure is insufficient and advocated investment in large projects such as high-speed trains and Land Bridge developments.
"Infrastructure investment must proceed quickly and must be free from corruption," Mr Boonsithi warned.
He said the current government is performing better than the previous two administrations, as reflected in investor confidence and the rebound of the Thai stock market.
Mr Boonsithi acknowledged a slowdown in Japanese investment but observed a rise in Chinese investment. He explained that when Chinese investors commit, they typically allocate larger budgets per phase than Japanese investors.
For example, Chinese investors may purchase hundreds of rai of land at once, while Japanese investors might acquire only 10-20 rai per transaction.
He said the government should carefully address baht appreciation, noting 35 baht per dollar is good for exports.
He said the company will try to maintain its product prices for as long as possible.
Mr Boonsithi acknowledged Thailand's economic growth is slower than Vietnam's and Indonesia's. However, he noted Thailand has a larger economic base.
The National Economic and Social Development Council projects Thai economy growth of 2% this year, while the World Bank projected growth of 1.6% for Thailand and 6.8% for Vietnam in 2026.
Saha Group is set to host the 30th Saha Group Fair and Fest from June 25-28 at Halls 98-100, Bitec Bangna, said Thamarat Chokwatana, president and executive chairman of ICC International Plc.
The company plans to sign a total of 20 memorandums of understanding and memorandums of agreement, covering sectors such as technology and artificial intelligence, trading and marketing, healthcare, real estate, education and lifestyle.
In the real estate segment, Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Plc, Tokyu Corporation and Saha Tokyu Corporation Co Ltd expect to collaborate on land development in Chon Buri's Si Racha district, accommodating urban expansion and supporting investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
