The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved bills to borrow 22 billion dollar, or 400 billion baht, for an economic stimulus package amid a walkout of angry opposition legislators.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters that the loan is part of the stimulus measures worth 1.4 trillion baht for over the next three years as the country grapples with recession.

Thai Chamber of Commerce’s assistant secretary Pronsilp Patcharintrakul commented that the bills would help the economy to expand by 1% percent this year.

The Thai government has revised down economic contraction from 5-6% this year to 2-3%.

“Thanks to the opposition MPs for not boycott. The bills is necessary as it could help accelerated the economic expansion up to 4.0 trillion baht in three years, creating over two million jobs, as well as pulled growth back to a positive territory,” Mr. Pornsilp said.