Twatchai speaks

I'm conscious that in reporting on the Thai political crisis, I have said little about its potential impact on Thailand's economy. Let me put that right immediately by drawing attention to remarks made by Twatchai Yongkittikul, secretary-general of the Thai Bankers Association, in an interview last week with ThaiDay.

"Whoever is in the next government is not so important because the fundamentals of the economy are still quite strong," Twatchai observed.

"Capacity utilisation is more than 80 per cent, so money is going to be spent once the political situtation becomes clear," Twatchai continued. "But we prefer that the process goes according to the Constitution."

Concluded Twatchai: "The election should take place. Let everything go according to the rules of the game, and if a dead end is reached then intervention would be alright."