Brief Introduction Capital: Bangkok Area: total: 5,130,000 The important Festival: National day: December 15 Population: 63,080,000 Language: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects. Currency: THB

Thailand

Geography

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma.

Administrative divisions

76 provinces.

Economy – overview

Thailand has a free enterprise economy and welcomes foreign investment. Exports feature computers and electrical appliances. After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998, and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year.

Culture and media

Newspaper:

Bangkok Biznews , Bangkok Post, Business Day, Daily News , Kom Chad Luek , Pattaya Blatt, Matichon , Thai Post , Thairath .

Place of interest

Grand Palace in Bangkok

Temple of the Emerald Buddha