Today at 13.30 hrs., Mrs. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and her delegation comprising Mr.Anoop Singh, Director of the Asia and Pacific Department, and Mr. Thomas Rumbaugh, Mission Chief for Thailand paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Purple Room, Thai Khu Fah Building, the Government House. The participants from Thai side were Mr.Kittirat Na Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Mr.Prasarn Triratvorakul, Bank of Thailand Governor, gist as follows.

The Prime Minister welcomed Mrs. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of  International Monetary Fund (IMF) and her delegation, and commended her as the first woman to hold the position of IMF Managing Director. After that, both parties exchanged views on the world economic situation. The Prime Minister mentioned on the Thai economic situation that it was back to normal after the country had encountered severe floods last year. This year’s growth rate was better as expected. Mrs.Lagarde said that she had followed the economic situation of Thailand and had seen very good development. She also commended the Prime Minister for her capability to lead the country through the crisis, although she had assumed the position for one year.

On this occasion, the Prime Minster asked for the IMF’s opinion on the Euro zone monetary crisis, including the measures undertaken by IMF. The Prime Minister also mentioned about Thailand’s measures to prevent the effects from that crisis, especially for the export sector which was directly affected from the decrease of world demand. Besides, the Prime Minister appointed a special working group to closely monitor the effects of this in order to immediately respond and cope with the crisis.

Moreover, both parties discussed on the cooperation between IMF and Thailand which is closer at the present. IMF viewed that Thailand had constructive cooperation with IMF such as taking part in assistance projects for developing countries by giving loans with low interest rate, amounting one billion baht. Latest, IMF proposed to set up its Technical Assistance Office in Thailand. Its objective is to give technical assistance needed for the countries in the region and build close relationship with the recipient countries, because IMF saw that Thailand had a leading role in the region. At the first stage, IMF would focus on giving assistance primarily to Myanmar and Laos. On this occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated IMF and said that Thailand was ready to cooperate closely in this matter with IMF by assigning the Bank of Thailand to act as the main coordinator.