BANGKOK, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) of Thailand said Monday that the country's growth rate for the third quarter slowed to 3.3 percent from 4.6 percent in the second quarter.
But the growth rate for the fourth quarter was expected to pick up, the agency said in a statement.
The NESDB statement said it is projecting growth rate for next year at 3.5-4.5 percent and 4.6 percent of export growth.
Tossaporn Sirisamphan, secretary-general of NESDB, said Thailand would have to rely on domestic economy as growth engine with a focus on tourism businesses.
The NESDB statement also said that overall the Thai economy remains resilient as a result of low unemployment rate which stands at one percent with inflation at 1.5 percent.
State investment grew at 4.2 percent and private investment has risen to 3.9 percent in 15 quarters.
The Thai Government is currently inviting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into the country's Eastern Economic Corridor.
