| ECONOMY. Thailand has a pro-business market | | | | services to the general public are overall |
| economy driven by strong foreign investments | | | | adequate. Internet broadband services are |
| and export oriented manufacturing especially | | | | mostly concentrated in Bangkok. Cities and |
| in electronics, foods and automobiles. | | | | towns are well connected by roads but lacks |
| Thailand's exports account for 60% of the | | | | super highways connecting Thailand's cities |
| country's GDP. Thailand experienced strong | | | | and major towns. Cities the major towns are |
| economic growth prior to the Asian economic | | | | served by airports and well connected by |
| crisis of 1997 with GDP growth averaging 9.4% | | | | buses and rail system.INTERNATIONAL TRADE. |
| annually. However, the crisis adversely | | | | Thailand's major trading partners include |
| affected businesses in Thailand and saw the | | | | Japan, US, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, |
| value of the Thai Baht decline by more than | | | | Malaysia and Taiwan. Main exports from |
| 50% against the US dollar. Since the crisis, | | | | Thailand include electronics, vehicle and |
| the economy has grown on a growth | | | | vehicle parts, textiles, garments, footwear, |
| path.Thailand's GDP was US$163.5 billion with | | | | seafood, processed foods, rice, rubber, |
| a GDP per capita of US$2,537 in 2004. | | | | jewellery, electrical appliances including |
| Thailand's GDP grew by an average of 4.6% | | | | computers. Main imports include machineries |
| annually from 2000 to 2004 driven mainly by | | | | and equipments, raw materials and finished |
| exports of high technology products mainly | | | | products, consumer goods and fuels.CONSUMER |
| electronics. Inflation remained below 2.0% | | | | USAGE OF TECHNOLOGY. There were nearly 17.3 |
| from 2000 to 2003 but increased to 2.8% by | | | | million installed fixed-line telephones in |
| 2004. However, unemployment showed a | | | | 2004 giving a penetration of 40% of all Thai |
| declining trend from 3.6% in 2000 to 1.8% by | | | | homes installed with telephones. The |
| 2004.Nearly 60% of Thailand's workforce is | | | | penetration of mobile phones increased from |
| involved in the agriculture industry but | | | | just 7% of the population in 2001 to 42% or |
| contributed to only 9.8% of the country's GDP | | | | 27 million mobile phones by 2004. The |
| in 2004. The services industry contributed | | | | penetration of computers is still low but |
| towards 46.1% of Thailand's GDP and | | | | increased from 5.1% of the households in 2001 |
| manufacturing 44.1% during the period. Major | | | | to nearly 12% by 2004. The number of internet |
| industries include tourism, electronics, | | | | users reached an estimated 8 million in 2004 |
| textiles and garments, processed foods, | | | | but most of the internet users are |
| beverages, agriculture produce, jewellery, | | | | concentrated in Bangkok and the major cities |
| furniture, plastics, vehicles and vehicle | | | | and towns. The penetration of television in |
| parts and mining of tungsten and tin. Major | | | | homes in 93% indicating many low-income homes |
| agriculture products include rice, tapioca, | | | | have televisions.RETAIL MARKET. The retail |
| rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybean | | | | industry in Thailand totalled an estimated |
| and milk.DEMOGRAPHY. Ethnic Thais account for | | | | US$24.5 billion in 2004. There are nearly |
| 75% of Thailand's 65 million population and | | | | 300,000 traditional "mom and pop" stores in |
| another 11% are Chinese or Sino-Thais who | | | | Thailand accounting for 65% of the total |
| have assimilated into the Thai culture or are | | | | retail sales. However, there are 4,500 modern |
| from mixed marriages. Minorities include | | | | retail establishments (hypermarkets, |
| Malays who lived mainly in southern Thailand | | | | supermarkets, department stores and |
| and account for 4% of the population. Others | | | | convenience stores) accounting for 35% of the |
| include the Mon, Lao, Khmers, Puan and Karen | | | | total retail sales. Most of the modern retail |
| minorities and immigrants from India. Nearly | | | | establishments are located in Bangkok. |
| 95% of the country's population are Buddhists | | | | Shopping in modern retail establishments is |
| while Malays in Thailand are predominantly | | | | increasingly popular and more establishments |
| Muslims. Thai is the national language while | | | | expected in the near future.FOOD CULTURE. |
| languages used by the minorities include | | | | Rice is the staple food but while those in |
| Malay, Isan and Khmer. Schools teach English | | | | central and southern Thailand prefer white |
| but proficiency is low and generally, the | | | | fragrant rice those in northern Thailand |
| educated elite are more proficient with the | | | | prefer the glutinous variety. Thai dishes are |
| language.The majority of the Thai population | | | | generally hot and spicy but foods from the |
| still live in the rural communities though | | | | northern region are generally milder. Thais |
| the proportion of the urban population is | | | | are less adapting to western foods even if |
| increasing. Thailand's urban population | | | | they could afford it compared to consumers in |
| increased from 22% of the total population in | | | | Singapore and Malaysia. However, bakery and |
| 2000 to 31% by 2004. Thailand's capital and | | | | coffer shop chains are gaining popularity |
| major city Bangkok accounts for nearly 8% of | | | | among young professionals who have adapted to |
| the country's total population. Other major | | | | western culture.Khal Mastan is a Senior |
| cities include Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Hat Yai, | | | | Consultant with Pegasus Business and Market |
| Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Udon | | | | Advisory ( based in Malaysia. He involves |
| Thani.Thailand successfully reduced the | | | | himself in business and marketing research |
| poverty level from 27% in 1990 to 10% by | | | | and provides consulting services on markets |
| 2004. The proportion of the population | | | | in Southeast Asia namely Malaysia, Thailand, |
| categorised belonging in the low-income | | | | Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei. |
| household is estimated at 60% while middle | | | | He has more than 20 years experience in the |
| and high-income households account for 30%. | | | | region and work experience in various |
| The average household income in Bangkok is | | | | industries. He holds a bachelors degree in |
| twice than the national | | | | Biochemistry and an MBA. He can be contacted |
| average.INFRASTRUCTURE. Telecommunication | | | | at or +6 (03) 7726 5373 in Malaysia. |