Word of mouth - Update - quotations from Thai prime minister, National Australia Bank market strategist, Vietnam national commitee for physical education and sports department director of legistation - Brief Article

Business Asia, July, 2003

"I want to increase the country's gross domestic product before I retire from politics. My policies have proved that growth is broad-based in every sector."

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who predicts the country's ODP will probably grow to US$200 billion ($293 billion) by 2009, from US$130 billion now.

"It's still early days as far as any global recovery is concerned, and the last thing any of these Asian countries can really sustain now is a loss of competitive position."

Michael Jansen, a market strategist at National Australia Bank, explaining why the region's central banks may sell their currencies.

"It's impossible to collect back the capital we are spending now through hosting Seagames 22. But what we are building is national property and it will serve future generations."

La Anh Tho, director of legislation at Vietnam's national committee for physical education and sports department. In December, Vietnam will host the 22nd version of the South-East Asian Games, which is exacted to cost Vietnam about 411 billion dong ($38 million).