Asia Economy

Thailand is the 20th most populous nation in the world, with a 2015 estimate of 67,959,000 inhabitants, making it the third most populous in ASEAN, after Indonesia and Vietnam. Following a period of economic decline in 2013 and 2014, estimated growth in 2015 was back at around 2.5%, with the Thai private sector driving the economy forward despite challenging conditions. Thailand is currently...

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This chapter contains facts for visitors, a list of recommended hotels, and a numbers listing for chambers of commerce, government offices, foreign missions and other important contacts. It also highlights suggested destinations throughout the archipelago for travelers to consider when visiting the Philippines.

The global BPO industry is forecast to be worth $250bn by 2020 and the Philippines is seeking to cement its position as a preferred global service offshoring hub and expand on and diversify its share in this lucrative, yet highly competitive field. Having grown at a compound annual growth rate of around 10% over the past decade, the BPO sector has become the country’s largest source of private...

After years of lagging behind its South-east Asian peers, the Philippines is seeing a long-awaited awakening of foreign direct investment (FDI). Although FDI volumes are still smaller than what countries in its peer group attract, the Philippines has been catching up at an impressive pace. Although many of the challenges that impeded investment in the past have yet to be fully overcome, the...