ECONOMIC INFORMATION

Population: 62.0m

Population growth: 0.65%

Population density (people per sq. km): 121

UN Human Development Index ranking: 76/177

Gross national income (current US$): $136.1bn (2003)

Gross national income per capita: $2,190

PPP Gross national income: $461.8bn

PPP Gross national income per capita: $7,450

GDP growth: 6.1% (2003)

GDP breakdown Agriculture: 8.8%, Industry: 41.44%, Services: 49.79%

Inflation (12-month average): 2.06 (2003)

Gross capital formation as % of GDP: 23.11%

Final consumption expenditure as % of GDP (growth): 70.6% (7.0%)

Exports of goods & services as % of GDP: 64.3%

Top 3 export markets: US, Japan, Singapore,

Local industries: Tourism; textiles & garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewellery; electric appliances & components, computers & parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world’s second-largest tungsten producer

WEF Growth Competitiveness ranking *: 34/104

WEF Business Competitiveness ranking **: 37/103

WEF Quality of the Business Environment ranking: 36/103

Transparency International Corruption Perceptions ranking: 64/145

Languages : Thai (official) English

FDI INFORMATION

Region: South East Asia

No. of projects (Jan-Sep 2004): 262

Market-share of projects in the region: 18.9%

Value of projects relative to GDP : 5.5%

Top 3 destination sectors: Chemicals, auto components, food & drink

Top 3 business functions: Manufacturing, sales marketing & support, retail

Top 3 source countries: Japan, US, UK

Top 3 investors: Hongkong Electric International, Maxim Integrated Products, Nissan

IPA

Name: Thailand Board of Investment

Web address: www.boi.go.th

* World Economic Forum Growth Competitiveness Ranking assesses an economy’s ability to grow consistently

** World Economic Forum Business Competitiveness Ranking assesses the microeconomic factors that contribute to economic growth

*** The difficulty of hiring workers and the difficulty and expense of firing workers is reflected as an index where the higher the value the more rigid the regulations