Economy

The Vietnam government has forecast a fiscal deficit for 2005 of 5% of GDP, unchanged from 2004. BMI View: Total government revenue has been buoyed by the high oil price, which... 2005-01-19

The Lao government recently announced plans to put its state-owned banks on a more commercial footing. BMI View: This is unlikely to happen quickly because many of the country's... 2005-01-19

The economic effects of the tsunami that hit Thailand are likely to be small.

Exports from Vietnam have been growing faster than imports in 2004, and as a result the full-year trade deficit will fall. BMI View: The faster-than-expected growth in exports is... 2005-01-17

FDI into Thailand increased in 2003 to US$1.8bn, compared with just US$1.1bn in 2002. BMI View: Foreign investors are attracted by the country's low labour costs and flexible workforce.... 2005-01-17

BMI View: BMI is forecasting GDP growth of 6.2% in 2004, and 6.3% for 2005. Our forecasts have been steadily downgraded over the last year due to growing concern over the impact... 2004-12-13

BMI View: BMI is forecasting growth this year of 7.4%, with 7.6% growth expected in 2005. To maintain strong growth over the longer term the government needs to do more to improve... 2004-12-13

Cambodia’s economy is estimated by BMI to have grown by 5.5% in 2004. Growth is however set to fall in 2005, when the economy is forecast to expand by just 2.5%. This is... 2004-12-13

The World Bank has warned that Cambodia will face difficult economic circumstances unless it speeds up its reform programme. BMI View: The main priority for Cambodia, according... 2004-12-07

High oil prices are a major risk to the Thai economy. BMI View: Thai growth could slow by an estimated 4 percentage points in the event that oil prices remain above US$50/b for... 2004-12-03