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