Doing Business in Thailand

Subject (Course): International Trade and Business in Thailand. Bangkok. Syllabus:

1. Introduction to the Kingdom of Thailand (South East Asia).
2. Thai Economy.
3. International Relations of Thailand
4. International Trade of Thailand
5. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Thailand
6. Thai Advantages.
7. Case Study:
     - Thai automotive industry.
     - Electronics Industry.
     - Stars Microelectronics.
     - Charoen Pokphand Group.
     - Thaksin Shinawatra
8. Doing Business in Bangkok.
9. Introduction to the Thai language.
10. Access to the Thai market
11. Business Plan for Thailand

Objectives of the subject "Doing Business in the Kingdom of Thailand":

1. To analyze the Thai economy and foreign trade
2. To evaluate business opportunities in the Kingdom of Thailand
3. To explore Thailand's trade relations with the student's country
4. To know Thailand's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
5. To examine the profile of Thai companies
6. To develop a business plan for the Thai market

Thaksin Shinawatra

Subject Description (Doing Business in Thailand).

The Kingdom of Thailand.

1. Thailand enjoys a strategic location in the center of the ASEAN region, in the Greater Mekong sub-region (Asia).
2. The population of Thailand: 67.2 millions of people.
3. Capital: Bangkok
4. The official language: Thai
5. 75% of the population are Thai
6. Type of Government: Constitutional monarchy (military junta)
7. Area: 513,120 Km²
8. The main religion of Thailand: Theravada Buddhism (95% of the population, 64 million). Islam (4%)
9. Borders of Thailand: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar
10. Maritime boundaries: Vietnam, Indonesia, and India

Thailand belongs to the Buddhist Civilization

Thai Economy

1. Thailand is one of the founding members of the APEC ©.
2. Thailand is located in one of the biggest growing economic regions in the World.
3. Thailand is a newly industrialized country.
4. Thailand is a gateway to continental ASEAN markets (Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia)
5. All of the global carmakers, assemblers, and components producers are established in Thailand: Ford, General Motors, BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Toyota, Isuzu, Honda, and Nissan (1.4 million vehicles produced).
6. The Kingdom of Thailand is the biggest manufacturer of one-ton pickup trucks in the World and the seventh biggest automotive exporter.
7. Thai electronics industry is another pillar of the economy (30 billion dollars, 30% of export revenues of Thailand).
8. Thailand is the biggest production base for the electrical appliance industry in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.
9. Thai Currency: Baht (THB)

Economic activities in Bangkok (20% of the population of the Kingdom of Thailand) represents 60% of the gross domestic product of Thailand.

1. Bangkok is competing with Singapore to become a regional hub for air travel within Southeast Asia region.
2. Bangkok is a first-class health care center in the ASEAN region.

International Trade of Thailand.

1. Top export products of Thailand: processed and frozen food, export agricultural products, electronics, electrical appliances, furniture, fashion garments and textiles, and auto parts and accessories,
2. Top Thai electronics exports are hard disk and integrated circuits (54% and 29% of the total electronic exports).
3. Thailand is the second biggest hard-disk drive exporter in the World.
4. The main export markets of the Kingdom of Thailand: the United States, Japan, the European Union (EU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia), India, and the People's Republic of China

Thailand's Market Access and Free Trade Agreements (FTA).

1. ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
2. Thailand has Free Trade Agreements (FTA) in force with India, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), China, and New Zealand
3. Thailand has preferential access to the ASEAN Free Trade Area and as an ASEAN member has access to several ASEAN's Free Trade Agreements (China, Canada, Australia)
4. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
5. Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
6. Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS)
7. Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT)
8. Bay of Bengal Initiative (BIMSTEC)
9. ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand (Free Trade Area)

Thailand is a member of:

1. Mekong River Commission
2. Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)
3. Asian Development Bank
4. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Introduction to Thai language: