<p>After years of fighting off disaster, the economy of the nation was on its knees.&nbsp;The government had been forced to spend well beyond its means to wage the war.&nbsp;At the same time, economic activity had been devastated, seriously reducing government revenue.&nbsp;The country was on the edge of a financial abyss...</p>

<p>A <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/394501579357102381/pdf/Thailand-Economic-Monitor-Productivity-for-Prosperity.pdf">new report from the World Bank</a>, launched yesterday morning (5 March) at the Foreign Correspondents&rsquo; Club of Thailand (FCCT), said that the number of people living in poverty in Thailand has risen in recent years, despite the success in reducing poverty over the last three decades.</p>

<div> <div>In the long run, Donald Trump’s protectionist policies may put an end to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, resulting in what could be a huge drop in Thai exports, says Thailand’s Commerce Minister.</div> </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><img alt="" src="http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/a.000.jpg" /></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <div>On 9 November 2016, Apiradi Tantraporn, Thailand’s Minister of Commerce, congratulated the new US President-elect Donald J. Trump on his victory. </div></div>

<div> <div>Economic experts said Thailand needs human capital development to catch up with new global economic trends.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> <div>On Thursday, the Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science held a public forum, “Moving Up the Global Value Chain: Thailand’s Upgrading and Growth Imperatives”, featuring four speakers: Pavida Pananond from Thammasat University, Kirida Bhaopichitr from the World Bank Group, Roong Poshyananda Mallikamas from the Bank of Thailand and Deunden Nikomborirak from TDRI (Thailand De </div>

<div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Economists have expressed positive sentiments towards economic growth in Thailand after the military intervention. They lauded the military’s swift clamp down on corruption and recalibrated focus on the economy. The military’s actions have facilitated a better environment for growth and bolstered investors’ confidence.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Wednesday, the Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS), Chulalongkorn University, organized a public forum titled “The Macroeconomic Impact of Thailand’s Military Intervention”. </div>

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<p><br />Forces are aligning against the Yingluck led government. On Monday, the protest movement that destabilised the country at the end of last year will return to the streets to ‘shut-down’ Bangkok. At the same time, the military has failed to commit to the protection of forthcoming elections scheduled for 2 February, and official bodies such as the Election Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission are doing little to dampen fears they are about to kibosh the vote.</p>