Activities and overview of the market in Thailand
ECONOMICS. Thailand has a very "pro-business" market driven by strong foreign investment and export-oriented manufacturing sector, especially in electronics, food and cars. Thailand's exports account for 60% of its GDP. Thailand experienced strong economic growth before the Asian financial crisis in 1997, with GDP growth averaging 9.4% per year. But the crisis adversely affected businesses in Thailand and saw the value of the Thai baht to fall by more than 50% against the U.S. dollar. Since the crisis the economy has grown at a growth.
Thailand's GDP was U.S. $ 163.5 billion with a per capita GDP of U.S. $ 2,537 in 2004. Thailand's GDP grew by an average of 4.6% per year from 2000 to 2004 mainly due to exports of high technology products, primarily electronics. Inflation remained below 2.0% from 2000 to 2003 but increased to 2.8% for 2004. Showed, however, unemployment is a downward trend from 3.6% in 2000 to 1.8% in 2004.
Almost 60% of Thailand's workforce is involved in the agricultural sector, but contributed to only 9.8% of the country's GDP in 2004. The services sector contributed 46.1% of Thailand's GDP and manufacturing 44.1% during the period. Major industries are tourism, electronics, textiles and garments, processed foods, beverages, agricultural produce, jewelry, furniture, plastics, vehicles and vehicle parts and mining of tungsten and tin. Major agricultural products include rice, tapioca, rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans and milk.
Demographics
Ethnic Thais account for 75% of Thailand's 65 million residents and another 11% are Chinese or Sino-Thais who have been assimilated into Thai culture or from mixed marriages. Minorities include Malays who lived primarily in southern Thailand, accounting for 4% of the population. Others include Sun, Lao, Khmer, Puan and Karen minorities and immigrants from India. Nearly 95% of the population are Buddhists, while the Malays in Thailand is predominantly Muslim. Thai is the national language, while languages of minorities are Malay, Isan and Khmer. The schools teach English, but knowledge is low and in general, the educated elites are more skilled with language.
The majority of the Thai population still live in rural communities, although the proportion of the urban population is increasing. Thailand's urban population increased from 22% of the total population in 2000 to 31% in 2004. Thailand's capital and largest city of Bangkok is responsible for almost 8% of the total population. Other major cities include Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Hat Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Udon Thani.
Thailand successfully reduced the poverty line from 27% in 1990 to 10% in 2004. The proportion of the population categorized as belonging to low income households is estimated at 60%, while medium-and high-income households account for 30%. The average household income in Bangkok is twice the national average.
Infrastructure
Telecommunications services to the public is comprehensive enough. Internet broadband services are mostly concentrated in Bangkok. Cities are well connected with roads, but no super highways connecting Thailand's cities and larger towns. Cities large cities served by airports and good connections by bus and train.
international trade. Thailand's main trading partners are Japan, USA, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. Main exports from Thailand include electronics, automotive and automotive parts, textiles, clothing, footwear, seafood, processed foods, rice, rubber, jewelry, electrical appliances including computers. Main imports include machinery and equipment, raw materials and finished products, consumer goods and fuels.
consumers' use of technology. There were nearly 17.3 million installed fixed telephones in 2004 gives a penetration of 40% of all Thai homes installed with telephones. The penetration of mobile phones increased from just 7% of the population in 2001 to 42% or 27 million phones in 2004. The penetration of computers is still low, but increased from 5.1% of households in 2001 to almost 12% by 2004. The number of Internet users reached an estimated 8 million in 2004, but most Internet users are concentrated in Bangkok and major cities. The penetration of TV homes in 93% indicates many low-income homes have televisions.
Retail Market
Retail sales in Thailand, an estimated U.S. $ 24500000000 in 2004. There are nearly 300,000 traditional "mom and pop" stores in Thailand account for 65% of total retail sales. However, there are 4500 modern retail establishments (supermarkets, department stores and convenience stores), which accounts for 35% of total retail sales. Most of the modern retail company located in Bangkok. Shopping in the modern retail company that is becoming increasingly popular and more sites are expected in the near future.
Culinary
Rice is the staple food, but while those in central and southern Thailand prefer white fragrant rice in northern Thailand prefer glutinous variety. Thai cuisine is generally hot and spicy food, but from the northern region is generally milder. Thais are less adaptation to western foods even if they could afford compared to consumers in Singapore and Malaysia. But the bakery and coffin shop chains are increasing in popularity among young professionals who have adapted to western culture.
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July 21, 2011 Translated text about Thailand
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