Bank of Thailand could adjust rates if outlook shifts: deputy governor

WASHINGTON/BANGKOK (Reuters) -- Thailand's central bank, under pressure from the government to cut interest rates, could adjust monetary policy if the outlook for the economy changes and structural challenges clearly reduce its long-term potential growth, a deputy governor said.

The Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee (MPC) is open to all input, but needs to balance immediate and longer-term economic factors when setting rates, Deputy Gov. Alisara Mahasandana told Reuters.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is also the finance minister, has openly challenged the central bank over its monetary policy, repeatedly saying rate cuts would help the economy cope with high household debt and China's slowdown.

"The MPC welcomes and values input from all stakeholders ... But when it comes to a monetary policy decision, the MPC needs to weigh between short-term and long-term impacts on monetary policy objectives ... and they could have different views," Alisara said, speaking on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington.

Monetary policy could be "recalibrated" if there was a change in the growth and inflation outlook, and if structural impediments "clearly lower our long-term potential growth," said Alisara, who is a member of the policy committee.

The central bank kept the key interest rate steady at 2.50%, its highest in over a decade, in a majority decision on April 10. The next review is on June 12.

The central bank forecasts Southeast Asia's second-largest economy will grow 2.6% this year and 3.0% in 2025, picking up from last year's 1.9%. Alisara said that while higher private consumption and tourism were expected to bolster growth, uncertainties remained, including how