Thailand: country profile

Résumé du document

Located in the very heart of South-East Asia, Thailand is one of the most important country of the region. Birmany at west, Laos and Cambodgia at east and Malaysia at south are the countries bordering Thailand. The country is divided into 5 main geographical areas (Center, East, North, Northeast and South) and 75 provinces, each divided into smaller districts (877). There are also 2 special governed districts : the capital city Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) and Pattaya. At round 514.000 km², Thailand is the 49th largest country of the world. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. and regarding foreign relations, Thailand is an active member of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Its foreign policy includes big support for ASEAN in the interest of regional stability and emphasis on a close and longstanding security relationship with the United States.

Extraits

[...] At round 514.000 Thailand is the 49th largest country of the world. The country counts according to figures from february 2007 more than 64 million inhabitants who are for the biggest share thai (75 percent), chinese (14 percent) and malaysian people. The Thai Culture rests upon several pilars : Thailand's main theology Theravada Buddhism is central to modern Thai identity and belief ; Like in most Asian cultures, respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual practice ; Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is the national sport in Thailand and its natives martial art call "Muay" ; The last important aspect of the Thai culture is the Thai Food which is internationally renowned and liked. [...]

[...] Japan is ranked the first supplier country accounting for USD 28638 million and percent of all imports[3]. Business and legal environment Thailand currently benefits from a rather negative position towards foreign country regarding its currency rate. The continuous currency appreciation[4], that on the one hand highly diminishes the impact of the rise of the baril price, should nevertheless on the other hand keep on weighting on the export competitiveness of the country in coming years. Indeed, topping in 2006 a THB / USD parity and a THB / EUR parity, the value of the currency has not stopped strenghtening ever since. [...]

[...] Economic activities in Bangkok and the metropolitan area account for almost 60 percent of the national GDP, though it merely counts fewer than 20 percent of the nation's population. The unemployment rate slugs around 1,8 percent according to November 2006 estimations. The labour force is mainly concentrated in the agriculture sector with roughly 49 percent of Thailand's labour force. Services and industry employ respectively 37 percent and and 14 percent of it[2]. Per head disposable incomes are expected to keep on growing in years to come. [...]

[...] Regarding foreign relations, Thailand is an active member of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Its foreign policy includes big support for ASEAN in the interest of regional stability and emphasis on a close and longstanding security relationship with the United States. In recent years, Thailand has taken an increasingly active role on the international stage and regional cooperation is progressing in economic, trade, banking, political, and cultural matters. In 2003, the United States of America designated Thailand as a major non-NATO ally, which granted Thailand several financial and military benefits derived from the United States. [...]

[...] Moreover, Thailand is one of the world's most favorite destinations. Thus, regarding positive trends and opportunities for the country such as the increasing outbound tourism in the neighbouring regions and the growing popularity of Low Cost Carriers, the country has to focus on solutions to further develop the tourism sector. To do so, Thailand can surely on the one hand rely on very solid pillars such as its wonderful natural ressources, landscapes and cutural richness and tradition. On the other hand, the country really has to take advantage of positive trends such as the increasing number of business and medical tourists. [...]