Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE
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 well developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise
economy, and welcomes foreign investment. Thailand has fully
recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis and was one of
East Asia's best performers in 2002-04. Increased consumption and
investment spending and strong export growth pushed GDP growth up to
6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish global economy. The
highly popular government's expansionist policy, including major
support of village economic development, has raised concerns about
fiscal discipline and the health of financial institutions. Bangkok
has pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners
in an effort to boost exports and maintain high growth, and in 2004
began negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the US. In late
December 2004, a major tsunami took 8,500 lives in Thailand and
caused massive destruction of property in the southern provinces of
Krabi, Phangnga, and Phuket.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$524.8 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 44.3% services: 46.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
36.43 million (November 2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 49%, industry 14%, services 37% (2000 est.)