Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [BANTADTAN Banyat];
National Development Party or NDP (Chat Phattana) [KORN Dabbaransi];
Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BANHAN Sinlapa-acha];
Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMISET, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador SAKTHIP Krairiksh consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000 FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width),
white, and red
Economy Thailand
Economy - overview:
Thailand has a free enterprise economy and welcomes foreign
investment. Exports feature computers and electrical appliances.
After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 -
averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on
Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial
sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long
pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56
to the dollar in January 1998, and the economy contracted by 10.2%
that same year. Thailand then entered a recovery stage, expanding by
4.2% in 1999 and 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports. An
ailing financial sector and the slow pace of corporate debt
restructuring, combined with a softening of global demand, slowed
growth to 1.4% in 2001. Increased consumption and investment
spending pushed GDP growth up to 5.2% in 2002 despite a sluggish
global economy.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $445.8 billion (2002 est.)