Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Mr. Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He co-ordinates the Asian business of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm, Centennial Group, directing its Asian economic research practice which provides in-depth analysis of macro trends in Asia. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and corporations. Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He is as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of CIMB Investment Bank and Japfa Limited.

Asia Economist and CEO

Thailand: The Eastern Economic Corridor Is Shaping up Well as a Potent Engine of Growth

Thailand: Restoration of Laggard Growth Engines Boosts Economic Torque

Thailand: Investment to Lift Cyclical and Potential Growth Rates

Thailand: Steady Recovery Ahead Founded on Three Pillars of Strength

Thailand: Unresolved Political Conundrum Weighs on Economic Outlook

Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

Centennial Asia Advisors is an independent research and advisory firm that works with governments, multilateral institutions, financial firms and leading MNCs.

Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

<p><strong>Thailand: Setting political tensions aside, gearing up for next stage of growth</strong></p><ul><li>The Thai government is increasingly winning hearts and minds with its ability to project stability after years of political infighting and strife within the civilian government led by inept politicians.</li><li>On the economic front, growth is sustained by exports, tourism and domestic demand on the back of a global economy on solid footing while one-off risks to the economy are subsiding.</li><li>But tepid private investment and structural issues in the labour market will plague the Thai economy and weigh down on growth unless these issues are adequately addressed by the government. Moving forward, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the border Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will greatly boost Thailand’s long-term growth prospects and serve as another key driver of the economy.</li></ul>

Thailand: Setting political tensions aside, gearing up for next stage of growthThe Thai government is increasingly winning hearts and minds with its ability to project stability after years of political infighting and strife within the civilian government led by inept politicians.On the economic front, growth is sustained by exports, tourism and domestic demand on the back of a global economy on solid footing while one-off risks to the economy are subsiding.But tepid private investment and structural issues in the labour market will plague the Thai economy and weigh down on growth unless these issues are adequately addressed by the government. Moving forward, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the border Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will greatly boost Thailand’s long-term growth prospects and serve as another key driver of the economy.

Thailand Research Trip: Gearing up for Next Stage of Growth