Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand

Head of State: His majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Head of Government: H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Sinawatra

Political System: Constitutional monarchy

Area: 513,115 sq.kms. (198,114 sq.miles)

Time Difference: GMT +5 hours, South Africa

Population (2004): 63,340,000

Currency Unit: baht

Gross Domestic Product (2003): US$ 136.4 billion

Gross Domestic Product (2004): US$ 155.8 billion (EIU forecast)

GDP per capita (2003): US$ 2,131; (2004) 2,413 (EIU forecast)

Fiscal balance (2003): US$bn -1.03

Foreign Reserves (as at February 2004): US$41 billion

Export Growth (2003): 12.1%

Total exports (2003): 76 Bn baht

Total imports (2003): 71 Bn baht

Foreign Participation in Business
For details of the Foreign Business Act, work permits, visas and immigration, international banking facilities and exchange controls: - http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/legal_issues_for_foreign_investors.asp

Establishing a Company in Thailand
For details on forming a company, reporting, accounting and auditing requirements, and types of business organization: - http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/company_establishing.asp

Cost of Doing Business in Thailand
Tables on typical costs of starting and operating a business; labour costs; taxation; transportation costs (including fuel and freight rates); communication costs; utility costs and indicative expatriate costs of living in Bangkok: - http://www.boi.go.th/english
Then from the tab "How to do the business" select "Cost of Doing Business in Thailand".

Taxation in Thailand
Summary of taxation types and regulations: - http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/taxation.asp

For Taxation details: - http://www.rd.go.th/publish/6000.0.html

Labour Regulations
Details on hiring, minimum wage requirements, working hours, employee records, compensation, social security and termination: - http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/labor_issues_and_important_addresses.asp

Intellectual Property
Patent, trademark and copyright laws and regulations: - http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/patents_trademarks_consumer_protection.asp

Export and Import Regulations
Prohibited goods and and other related regulations: - http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/taxation.asp Section 4 and 5 and www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/indexEng.jsp

Securities and Regulation
An introduction to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), and the regulations for foreign shareholding: - http://www.set.or.th/en/about/rules/rules.html

Investment Incentives
http://www.boi.go.th/english/about/investment_policies_criteria.asp

Obtaining Promotional Privileges from the Board of Investment
http://www.boi.go.th/english/about/boi_promotion_procedure.asp