ECONOMY. Thailand has a pro-business enterprise sector economic climate pushed by strong overseas investments and export oriented production especially in electronics, foods and cars. Thailand's exports account for 60% from the state's GDP. Thailand seasoned robust financial expansion before the Asian financial crisis of 1997 with GDP expansion averaging 9.four% every year. Even so, the crisis adversely impacted organizations in Thailand and observed the value on the Thai Baht drop by in excess of fifty% in opposition to the US greenback. Because the disaster, the economic system has developed with a progress path.

Thailand's GDP was US£163.five billion using a GDP per capita of US£2,537 in 2004. Thailand's GDP grew by a median of 4.six% annually from 2000 to 2004 pushed mostly by exports of superior technological innovation solutions mainly electronics. Inflation remained underneath two.0% from 2000 to 2003 but amplified to 2.8% by 2004. Nonetheless, unemployment confirmed a declining development from three.six% in 2000 to one.8% by 2004.

Almost 60% of Thailand's workforce is involved with the agriculture field but contributed to only nine.eight% of the nation's GDP in 2004. The companies marketplace contributed to forty six.one% of Thailand's GDP and producing forty four.one% in the time period. Main industries incorporate tourism, electronics, textiles and garments, processed foods, beverages, agriculture generate, jewellery, home furniture, plastics, autos and car or truck sections and mining of tungsten and tin. Main agriculture products include things like rice, tapioca, rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybean and milk.

DEMOGRAPHY. Ethnic Thais account for seventy five% of Thailand's 65 million population and another eleven% are Chinese or Sino-Thais who definitely have assimilated in the Thai tradition or are from mixed marriages. Minorities include Malays who lived mainly in southern Thailand and account for four% on the population. Other people include the Mon, Lao, Khmers, Puan and Karen minorities and immigrants from India. Almost ninety five% on the nation's inhabitants are Buddhists though Malays in Thailand are predominantly Muslims. Thai would be the nationwide language while languages utilized by the minorities include things like Malay, Isan and Khmer. Educational facilities train English but proficiency is reduced and customarily, the educated elite are more proficient Using the language.

The majority of the Thai inhabitants Elitevisa nonetheless are in the rural communities even though the proportion in the urban populace is increasing. Thailand's urban inhabitants elevated from 22% of the overall population in 2000 to 31% by 2004. Thailand's funds and major city Bangkok accounts for just about eight% of the place's total population. Other key towns consist of Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Hat Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Udon Thani.

Thailand properly reduced the poverty degree from 27% in 1990 to 10% by 2004. The proportion on the inhabitants categorised belonging in the minimal-cash flow domestic is estimated at 60% although Center and superior-earnings households account for 30%. The normal domestic money in Bangkok is 2 times compared to nationwide common.

INFRASTRUCTURE. Telecommunication companies to most of the people are In general adequate. Internet broadband solutions are mainly concentrated in Bangkok. Cities and cities are very well linked by roads but lacks Tremendous highways connecting Thailand's metropolitan areas and key towns. Towns the major cities are served by airports and properly linked by buses and rail method.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE. Thailand's important buying and selling partners include Japan, US, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. Main exports from Thailand include electronics, auto and car or truck areas, textiles, garments, footwear, seafood, processed foods, rice, rubber, jewellery, electrical appliances including desktops. Major imports contain machineries and equipments, Uncooked resources and finished products and solutions, client goods and fuels.

Shopper USAGE OF TECHNOLOGY. There were nearly 17.three million installed fastened-line telephones in 2004 giving a penetration of 40% of all Thai homes set up with telephones. The penetration of cell phones improved from just seven% from the populace in 2001 to forty two% or 27 million mobile phones by 2004. The penetration of personal computers remains minimal but greater from 5.1% with the homes in 2001 to nearly 12% by 2004. The volume of Web people reached an approximated eight million in 2004 but most of the world wide web people are concentrated in Bangkok and the main metropolitan areas and towns. The penetration of television in properties in ninety three% indicating many minimal-profits households have televisions.

RETAIL Marketplace. The retail market in Thailand totalled an approximated US$24.5 billion in 2004. You will discover approximately three hundred,000 common "Mother and pop" suppliers in Thailand accounting for sixty five% of the full retail sales. However, you'll find 4,500 contemporary retail establishments (hypermarkets, supermarkets, shops and advantage retailers) accounting for 35% of the entire retail product sales. Many of the present day retail establishments are located in Bangkok. Procuring in modern-day retail establishments is increasingly popular plus more institutions expected within the in the vicinity of long run.

Foods Society. Rice is the staple meals but when People in central and southern Thailand choose white fragrant rice those in northern Thailand like the glutinous range. Thai dishes are usually warm and spicy but foods from your northern location are commonly milder. Thais are significantly less adapting to western foods even if they might afford it when compared to customers in Singapore and Malaysia. On the other hand, bakery and coffer shop chains are gaining attractiveness amongst younger gurus that have tailored to western society.