BANGKOK, Jan 31 Reuters Monetary policy cannot fix structural problems holding back Thailand39;s economy, the central bank said on Wednesday, as the government is pressing for a rate cut to help revive flagging growth.

Southeast Asia39;s secondlargest economy slowed down in December and the fourth quarter as tourist spending and exports softened due to subdued global demand and structural restraints, which negatively affected manufacturing production and private investment, the Bank of Thailand BOT said.

Monetary policy can39;t directly address structural problems, senior BOT director Sakkapop Panyanukul told a briefing, echoing the central bank39;s earlier statements.

Instead, Thailand needs to boost productivity, the share of advanced technology in its exports, and the attractiveness of its tourism offer, the central bank has said.

The government has raised pressure on the BOT to cut its policy rate, which is at a decadehigh of 2.50, at its next meeting on Feb. 7 to help lower borrowing costs and spur growth.

Last week, central bank Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput told Reuters that the current rate was 39;broadly neutral39;.

The BOT left its main rate unchanged at its last policy meeting in November, having raised it by 200 basis points since August 2022 to curb inflation.

In December, exports, a key driver of Thai growth, rose 3 from a year earlier after November39;s 3.9 rise.

Private consumption rose 0.1 from November and private investment dropped 2.4,…