The Lao economy has performed relatively well in the midst of the global financial crisis, supported by higher than initially forecasted commodity prices and significant expansion in public outlays which have acted as a fiscal stimulus. The impact of the global financial crisis is felt through declining commodity export earnings, reduced FDI inflows and remittance income, as well as a decline in non-resource exports, especially agriculture. Real GDP growth in 2009 is projected to slow to about 6.4 percent, as the impacts of the global financial crisis are felt in the domestic economy. This impressive growth rate – the second highest in the East Asia region after China – was possible for the following reasons: First, the Laotian economy is relatively insulated from the global financial system and its exposure to global trade is relatively limited, thereby mitigating the direct impact of external shocks. Second, it has benefited from a sustained demand for exports (minerals from China, garments from Europe, electricity from Thailand) and for tourism services, and from lower energy (fuel) prices. Third, a significant fiscal stimulus also contributed in 2009 to sustain economic growth and to compensate for the decline in foreign investment. This fiscal stimulus was driven by increased on-budget expenditures (wages and domestic capital spending) and by off-budget quasi-fiscal spending by the Bank of Laos financing local public infrastructure projects.
The contribution to GDP growth has shown a noticeable shift toward the resource sectors. The mining sector (mostly copper and gold) contributes about 2.5 percentage points to growth this year; manufacturing and construction together and agriculture about 1 percentage point each. Services account for the remainder.
With the expected global recovery, real GDP growth in Lao PDR will strengthen over the mediumterm although the recovery remains subject to global commodity price changes (mainly in metals and agriculture). The economy is projected to benefit from the recovery of tourism, the implementation of large hydropower projects under construction and in the pipeline, and from projected increase in demand from neighboring countries (especially Thailand, China and Vietnam) and the European Union.
Prices have begun to rise after falling significantly during the past several months of this year. The headline inflation has climbed by 1.5 percent in November 2009 year-on-year after staying at just below zero during the past months, as food and energy prices recovered. At the same time, core inflation excluding food and energy has also increased gradually from 0.4 percent in June to 1.1 percent in September and 2.4 percent in November. Average inflation is estimated to decline from 7.6 percent in 2008 to just below 1 percent this year, but should increase slowly over the medium term as prices for oil and food grow.
Pressure from the global crisis combined with commitments to host a series of major events led to significant expansion of public outlays in 2009. As a result, the budget deficit is estimated to increase sharply from 1.8 percent in 2008 to 6.8 percent in 2009. Public spending has noticeably increased on capital expenditure and the wage bill (the increase in public servants’ wages and allowances was approved by the National Assembly before the crisis). There was an increase in quasi-fiscal expenditures through the Bank of Lao PDR to support local infrastructure projects and two important events, the South-East Asian (SEA) Games and the 450 year Vientiane Anniversary. However, BOL has officially announced a phasing out of such direct lending operations by the end of 2009, which addresses in part the concerns over domestic debt levels in the future. Revenue collection is projected to fall short of the target by 8 percent, and to slightly fall to 13.8 percent of GDP in 2009. This is due to a reduction in resource revenues and non-tax revenue (particularly dividends).
The Lao economy has performed relatively well in the midst of the global financial crisis, supported by higher than initially forecasted commodity prices and significant expansion in public outlays which have acted as a fiscal stimulus. The impact of the global financial crisis is felt through declining commodity export earnings, reduced FDI inflows and remittance income, as well as a decline in non-resource exports, especially agriculture. Real GDP growth in 2009 is projected to slow to about 6.4 percent, as the impacts of the global financial crisis are felt in the domestic economy. This impressive growth rate – the second highest in the East Asia region after China – was possible for the following reasons: First, the Laotian economy is relatively insulated from the global financial system and its exposure to global trade is relatively limited, thereby mitigating the direct impact of external shocks. Second, it has benefited from a sustained demand for exports (minerals from China, garments from Europe, electricity from Thailand) and for tourism services, and from lower energy (fuel) prices. Third, a significant fiscal stimulus also contributed in 2009 to sustain economic growth and to compensate for the decline in foreign investment. This fiscal stimulus was driven by increased on-budget expenditures (wages and domestic capital spending) and by off-budget quasi-fiscal spending by the Bank of Laos financing local public infrastructure projects. The contribution to GDP growth has shown a noticeable shift toward the resource sectors. The mining sector (mostly copper and gold) contributes about 2.5 percentage points to growth this year; manufacturing and construction together and agriculture about 1 percentage point each. Services account for the remainder. With the expected global recovery, real GDP growth in Lao PDR will strengthen over the mediumterm although the recovery remains subject to global commodity price changes (mainly in metals and agriculture). The economy is projected to benefit from the recovery of tourism, the implementation of large hydropower projects under construction and in the pipeline, and from projected increase in demand from neighboring countries (especially Thailand, China and Vietnam) and the European Union. Prices have begun to rise after falling significantly during the past several months of this year. The headline inflation has climbed by 1.5 percent in November 2009 year-on-year after staying at just below zero during the past months, as food and energy prices recovered. At the same time, core inflation excluding food and energy has also increased gradually from 0.4 percent in June to 1.1 percent in September and 2.4 percent in November. Average inflation is estimated to decline from 7.6 percent in 2008 to just below 1 percent this year, but should increase slowly over the medium term as prices for oil and food grow. กดดันจากวิกฤตโลกรวมกับข้อผูกมัดจัดชุดของเหตุการณ์สำคัญที่นำไปสู่การขยายตัวอย่างมีนัยสำคัญของสาธารณะ outlays ในปี 2009 ดัง ขาดดุลงบประมาณเป็นประมาณการเพิ่มอย่างรวดเร็วจากร้อยละ 1.8 ในปี 2008 ร้อยละ 6.8 ในปี 2552 อย่างเห็นได้ชัดขึ้นการใช้จ่ายสาธารณะจ่ายและรายการค่าจ้าง (การเพิ่มขึ้นของค่าจ้างของข้าราชการประชาชนและหักได้รับการอนุมัติ โดยรัฐสภาก่อนวิกฤติ) มีการเพิ่มขึ้นของรายจ่ายกึ่งทางการเงินผ่านการธนาคารของลาวเพื่อสนับสนุนโครงสร้างพื้นฐานในท้องถิ่น และเหตุการณ์สำคัญสอง เกมเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ (SEA) และเวียงจันทน์ครบรอบ 450 ปี อย่างไรก็ตาม BOL ได้ทางประกาศตัวเพื่อออกจากการดำเนินงานให้กู้ยืมดังกล่าวโดยตรง โดยสิ้นปี 2552 ซึ่งอยู่ในส่วนเกี่ยวข้องผ่านระดับหนี้ภายในประเทศในอนาคต เก็บรายได้คาดว่าตกขาดเป้าหมาย 8 เปอร์เซ็นต์ และลงเล็กน้อยร้อยละ 13.8 ของ GDP ในปี 2552 นี่คือเนื่องจากลดทรัพยากรรายได้และรายได้ที่ไม่ใช่ภาษี (โดยเฉพาะเงินปันผล)
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