Bangkok: The Prime Minister is pleased with the continued growth of Thailand's GDP in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting that the government's measures are on the right track. He affirms that the government will continue to address the economic hardship of the people amidst the rising cost of living.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul is pleased with the continuous recovery of the Thai economy. The latest report from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) shows the Thai economy expanded by 2.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026, an increase from 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. This reflects that the government's economic management since the beginning of its term has been on the right track, and the measures gradually implemented are beginning to yield concrete results.
Key factors supporting economic growth include accelerated government spending, stimulation of private sector investment, improvements to government mechanisms and regulations to reduce investment barriers, and enhanced economic confidence. This is reflected in the improved consumer confidence index and the positive outlook for Thailand's credit rating from global rating agencies such as Moody's, which upgraded Thailand's rating from negative to stable and analyzed that Thailand is one of the large emerging market countries that has been able to better withstand the shocks of the global economy throughout the past year.
Total investment expanded by 9.9 percent, the highest in 44 quarters. Private sector investment grew by 10.1 percent, driven by investment in machinery and technology. Exports continued to perform well, especially industrial goods and technology. The government is preparing to further expand into new markets in Africa and the Middle East to diversify risk and create new opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, the government is focusing on supporting the grassroots economy, particularly the agricultural sector, which continues to face pressure from global agricultural commodity prices. The government will prioritize assistance for farmers, low-income earners, and self-employed individuals through measures to reduce production costs, manage water resources, control commodity prices, and expand markets to mitigate the impact of rising living costs and the global economy. Simultaneously, infrastructure development will continue to strengthen Thailand's long-term economic potential.
The government is also closely monitoring the risk of inflation arising from the energy crisis in the Middle East. The Prime Minister has instructed relevant agencies to continuously monitor the energy situation, commodity prices, and production costs to minimize the impact on the public. He also emphasized that future economic management must prioritize addressing the rising cost of living faced by citizens due to energy prices through various measures, including the "Thai Helps Thai Plus" program, which has been adapted to a system where the government contributes 60% and the public pays 40%, in order to distribute funds to small businesses and the grassroots economy nationwide.
During Prime Minister Anutin's first term in office, from the last quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, Thailand faced external crises, including global economic volatility stemming from US tariffs, geopolitical conflicts, and a global energy crisis. Even with continued global economic uncertainty, the government has prioritized the needs and hardships of the country, businesses, and the public. Various projects under the Emergency Decree on borrowing, such as the 'Thai Helps Thai Plus' project and the promotion of energy transition, along with other government measures to be gradually implemented, will be key drivers in supporting the public and sustaining economic growth until the end of the year. We are confident that we can achieve our target of 2% economic growth for the year, Ms. Rachada stated.