Thai businesses call for vaccine passports, more foreign suppliers, to safeguard economic recovery
Thailand’s economic recovery will depend on how the government handles the question of vaccinations this year, the country’s top business association said Wednesday, calling for vaccine-passport programmes to boost tourism, and a wider supply of imported vaccines for Thai citizens.
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) maintained its growth projection of 1.5-3.5 per cent, citing economic recovery and vaccine distribution worldwide.
The JSCCIB said the economy was likely to improve gradually as restrictions are eased, infection rates drop, and vaccinations start, said Supant Mongkolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, one of the three leading trade associations that make up the Committee.
“An improved domestic situation regarding the Covid-19 outbreak including government measures that could directly mitigate the impact of businesses and affected groups will help build confidence to the public,” said Suphan.
However, the Committee pointed out that Thailand’s economic growth would depend on the effectiveness of its measures against future outbreaks, the speed of vaccine distribution, and economic stimulus plans to boost spending in the country.
“[We] still have to track the situation of the mutant variant of Covid-19 which could affect the number of people infected,” added the chairman.
The JSCCIB urged the Thai government to open its borders to low- and medium-risk countries in accordance with the vaccine passport programme, to stimulate the tourism sector.
The Committee called on the government to allow the private sector to purchase their own vaccines to help speed up vaccination in order to recover the country’s economy. They also suggested the government look for various sources of vaccine globally to cover all Thais, migrant workers, and foreign businessmen.
In January the JSCCIB revised its projection for the growth of gross domestic product in 2021 to 1.5-3.5 per cent, down from a December forecast of 2-4 per cent, following the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.