Thailand: Cabinet approves three-year spending budget.

Section: General News - The Cabinet on October 28 endorsed a three-year spending budget of Bt7.1 trillion, including about Bt1.61 trillion for mega-project investment - considered essential in driving the economy at a time when the global crisis is hitting home, The Nation reports.

Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Pataraprasit said the budget was designed to ensure economic growth of 3 to 4 per cent next year and in 2010, and 5 to 6 per cent in 2011. During this period, Thailand will run budget deficits, in line with the policy of using government spending as the key element driving the economy.

To ensure that these goals are reached, the Finance Ministry must …