BACK Struggling with the inflation crisis: Is this really a new round of financial disasters?
Source of picture: https://pixabay.com/photos/gear-gears-euro-currency-dollar-384743/
Ever since the higher oil price caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, there has been a continuous increase in domestic inflation. Until recently, Thailand's inflation rate (as of May 2022) was 7.1%, the highest in 14 years. This has caused disagreement between members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at their last meeting about keeping the current interest rate for which the voting was 4:3. In the view of economic analysts, this forecasts a warning about a higher interest rate adjustment in the next round. The baht (as of June 22, 2022) has weakened to a level of 35.29 baht / US dollar, the worst in 5 years. However, a good sign for the export and tourism sectors is that the COVID-19 restrictions are to be relaxed and the country is opening up to welcome tourists and investors to boost the domestic market because the currency of other countries can be exchanged for lots of Thai baht.
Will this round of inflation crisis be like the “Tom Yum Kung” era?
Looking back to 1997 when Thailand was unable to implement three important policies:
- Financial liberalization without a control of in-out money flow.
- The implementation of interest policy for inflation control amidst a good but unfavorable inside economy.
- Exercise of a fixed exchange rate policy.
After learning lessons from the past, the current trend is towards the control of in-out money flow as well and to finding economic solutions to problems caused by the worldwide slowdown following the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last few years the central banks of countries worldwide have injected large amounts of money into the systems as a resolution to the problems. Some countries have also chosen lockdown and this has disrupted tourism and the export sectors, which are Thailand’s two main source of revenue. Factories in many industrial estates have laid off their workers, leading to the loss of household income and the accruement of large debts by many. Hidden problems, especially the recent Russia-Ukraine war, have caused shortages in the supply of many products and raised production costs everywhere.
However, there are always opportunities in a crisis. If Thailand proceeds with opening up the country and relaxing various measures related to COVID-19, the economic situation will continue to ease. Despite the widespread unemployment in Thailand there are still many who can adapt and create opportunities for themselves and have been able to rebuild their businesses by income generation during the crisis. In addition, many countries have begun to stockpile their agricultural products following the prospect of long period of war. Consequently, the price of agricultural products is rising even as fertilizer prices have gone up. Moreover, the demand for agricultural products in Thailand is a positive effect of the crisis because processed foods and also energy are currently in short supply or very expensive. The manufacturing sector has started to return to normal and orders are coming in. Industrial estates continue to recruit workers.
Investors who foresee opportunities in crises may wish to invest in the many fully-equipped industrial parks which have excellent infrastructure and many facilities, such as public utilities as well as a good labor market. Industrial Park 304, one of our well-developed industrial areas has the capacity to support investments in many industries. There are rental spaces and fully-finished factories available for investment in both the Prachinburi and Chachoengsao provinces, with benefits from the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) and business assistance with a One-Stop Service of maximum convenience to all investors.
However, there are always opportunities in a crisis. If Thailand proceeds with opening up the country and relaxing various measures related to COVID-19, the economic situation will continue to ease. Despite the widespread unemployment in Thailand there are still many who can adapt and create opportunities for themselves and have been able to rebuild their businesses by income generation during the crisis. In addition, many countries have begun to stockpile their agricultural products following the prospect of long period of war. Consequently, the price of agricultural products is rising even as fertilizer prices have gone up. Moreover, the demand for agricultural products in Thailand is a positive effect of the crisis because processed foods and also energy are currently in short supply or very expensive. The manufacturing sector has started to return to normal and orders are coming in. Industrial estates continue to recruit workers.
Investors who foresee opportunities in crises may wish to invest in the many fully-equipped industrial parks which have excellent infrastructure and many facilities, such as public utilities as well as a good labor market. Industrial Park 304, one of our well-developed industrial areas has the capacity to support investments in many industries. There are rental spaces and fully-finished factories available for investment in both the Prachinburi and Chachoengsao provinces, with benefits from the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) and business assistance with a One-Stop Service of maximum convenience to all investors.
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