Thailand's economy on a roll, PM tells US

       Thailand's economic recovery has begun,Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has told US investors.
       The prime minister, who is in the US to attend the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and the G-20 Pittsburgh Summit until Sunday, yesterday met with representatives of securities companies that trade in the US.
       Mr Abhisit said he told executives the Stock Exchange of Thailand index had bounced back by almost 60% over the past nine months and the country's economic growth had turned positive.
       He also told executives about the government's medium- and long-term plans to stimulate the economy under the "Thailand: Investing from Strength to Strength" scheme, particularly the water supply, communications and service sector projects.
       This message sends the right signal to US investors and it should result in new investment in Thailand, Mr Abhisit said.
       "Over the past several years, Thailand has had more economic competitors,but the country's infrastructure has been ignored over the past seven to eight years," he said.
       "We only had a new airport."He said if Thailand did not invest in new infrastructure the country would lose its competitive advantage. The gov-ernment's clear development plan would boost investor confidence, he said.
       Mr Abhisit said US executives asked about Thailand's political stability over the past few years.
       He said he told them the government had a tangible plan for reconciliation which includes political reform.
       "I believe foreign investors understand democracy, that people can view things differently ... the [United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship] rally that took place [on Saturday] and went well which should have positive effects on the country," he said.
       Major US investors, including some of the world's top 10 investors, showed interest in the "Thailand: Investing from Strength to Strength" scheme as it would involve 140 billion baht in government spending, said Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot who accompanied Mr Abhisit on the trip.
       The prime minister told executives the worst point of Thailand's economic crisis had passed. All economic indices are showing signs of recovery.
       The positive trend will revitalise ThaiUS business activities, Mr Alongkorn quoted Mr Abhisit as saying.
       Mr Alongkorn said next year the volume of Thailand's exports to the US was expected to rise by 10%.