Thailand's economy is suffering due to lacklustre growth caused by more than a decade of political instability and reducing demand for its exports.
Thai exports fell by nearly nine per cent in January, their worst drop in more than four years, however, fruit and vegetable exports were one of the few sectors to show an increase, up nearly 20 per cent for January.
The economy grew by just 2.8 per cent last year, one of the region’s slowest rates, in a blow to the kingdom’s junta government, which vowed to kickstart trading following its 2014 coup.
The country’s continued export slump, compounded by the slowdown in key trading partner China, is one of a number of ailments derailing that pledge.
Military control, which has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in rights abuses, also appears to have put off overseas interest, with applications for foreign direct investment slumping 78 per cent in the first 11 months of 2015.
