THAILAND

1991 Growth Exceeds Expectations: Better than-expected export growth this year has helped the Thai economy expand by 7.9% in spite of the industrial world’s recession and almost stagnant world trade, according to the Bank of Thailand. Officials said they expect the country’s growth rate to continue at about 8% next year as the world economy recovers, prices strengthen for rice and other Thai agricultural exports and the country’s competitiveness gradually improves.