April 06, 2007	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1428

BANGKOK, April 5: The World Bank said on Thursday it has slashed its projection for Thailand's economic growth to 4.3 per cent this year due to sagging investor confidence and slower exports.

The bank had originally predicted Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) would grow by 4.6 per cent, already down from last year's 5.0 per cent, said Kazi Matin, a World Bank economist for Southeast Asia.

The revision puts the Thai economy among the worst performers in the region, trailing the expected 8.0 per cent growth in Vietnam, 9.6 per cent in China, 6.3 per cent in Indonesia, and 10.5 per cent in Cambodia.

Average economic growth across Southeast Asia is expected to be 5.6 per cent, the bank said.

Low investor confidence has put pressure on short-term prospects for the Thai economy, Matin said.

Following political disturbances in 2005 and the coup in 2006, investor confidence has steadily fallen.—AFP