BANGKOK, Thailand – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its Asia-Pacific growth forecast to 4.8% this year and 4.4% next year. Krishna Srinivasan, Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, highlighted the region’s resilience amid global challenges, including energy price shocks and US tariffs. He said the Asia-Pacific region had adapted well to these pressures, while the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom had provided a strong boost to growth.
Thailand is also expected to benefit from the AI-driven investment cycle, particularly through export growth and increased investment in technology manufacturing and data centers. The IMF has revised up its growth forecast for Thailand to 2.1% for both this year and next.
Srinivasan also congratulated Thailand on successfully hosting the 2026 IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings, highlighting the country’s progress in policy frameworks, institutional strength and integration into global supply chains. He said Thailand’s development reflects the broader dynamism of the Asia-Pacific region. (NNT)
