Thailand’s plans to climb the ladder toward becoming a high-economy country were put on hold by disastrous floods in late 2011. Real GDP contracted 9% and losses were estimated at $44.7bn, but recovery, particularly for the hard-hit industrial estates, has been relatively swift. The focus is now on mitigating Thailand’s dependence on low-cost manufacturing exports for growth, which is risky given...
Economy
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Chapter | Country Profile from The Report: Thailand 2012
This chapter features interviews with His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand; Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand; Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEAN; Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Minister for Economic Affairs, Kingdom of Bhutan; William Hague, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; and Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK.
Located in the heart of South-east Asia, Thailand combines an ancient Buddhist culture with an emerging industrial economy. It is the only South-east Asian country never to have been colonised, and the monarchy dates back to the 14th century.
Ras Al Khaimah has a rich history. This chapter examines a recurring theme of RAK’s past, the emirate’s defence against foreign incursions. The area that now makes up present-day RAK was historically a popular target for invaders due to the location at the entrance of the Gulf. This maritime potential made RAK an important shipping point throughout the ages. Indeed, RAK drew military challenges...
With some of the fastest-growing free trade zones in the region, Ras Al Khaimah has witnessed impressive economic expansion and diversification across key industries in recent years, and is on its way to becoming an important investment destination in the Gulf
The largest of the Pacific Island nations, Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of New Guinea and hundreds of nearby islands. A mountainous and forested terrain has led to astonishing cultural and linguistic diversity, even as it inhibited development.