Bangkok: The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) indicates that Thailand's GDP growth in the first quarter was concentrated in certain areas, suggesting the government needs investment across all sectors.
According to Thai News Agency, the JSCCIB has been closely monitoring the economic situation and noted that Thailand's GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026 was concentrated in specific areas. The committee has urged the government to invest more broadly, with a particular focus on restructuring the energy sector to mitigate risks associated with ongoing warfare.
The JSCCIB expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for establishing the Coordinating Committee for Combating Corruption, a move expected to enhance transparency, strengthen governance, and boost public confidence. This initiative, coupled with the creation of the Joint Public-Private Sector Committee (JPPCC), aims to tackle corruption through legal improvements, regulatory adjustments, and technological advancements to foster transparency and efficiency.
The committee also highlighted the urgent need to address labor shortages affecting labor-intensive industries, which pose a threat to production, exports, and competitiveness. The JSCCIB called for the renewal of work permits for foreign workers and the development of an efficient management plan for foreign labor.
The JSCCIB is monitoring the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted economic activities, including flight travel to Thailand. Despite a projected 2.8% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by private investment, government spending, and robust digital technology exports, the committee warns that these gains are not benefiting the manufacturing sector equally.
The committee projects GDP growth for 2026 to be between 1.2% and 1.6% and stresses the need for energy infrastructure investment and renewable energy production to reduce reliance on imports, supporting future economic growth under the Reinvent Thailand initiative.