UN General Assembly
2009

lessons learned from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, most of Thailand’s financial institutions have escaped the direct impact of the current crisis, thanks to their more prudent style of investment. Entrepreneurs have managed to weather the storm through rational decision-making and more careful risk management, two of the key principles advocated by His Majesty’s philosophy. My Government’s socio-economic policy is guided by His Majesty’s philosophy, which has been incorporated into our national economic and social development plan. Development for us is not just about the rate of growth, but also about the quality of that growth. Not only have we boosted Government spending and investment to jumpstart the economy, but we have also set up social safety nets, made educational reform a priority and upgraded our health and welfare services. We have prioritized investment programmes and action plan to increase strength and to provide greater economic opportunities for people at grass-roots level. We have also laid the foundation for long-term growth and competitiveness in Thailand’s various sectors, including agriculture, health care, education and tourism. In short, we have made Thailand’s