Country Profile
From The Report: Thailand 2018
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Following the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October 2016, a major chapter in the history of the kingdom closed and another opened, with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun now on the throne. Meanwhile, the government of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, continues to rule following its removal of the civilian government in May 2014. The year ahead is shaping up to be one of transition, with the Thai electorate and international partners eager for the delayed elections to take place. The NCPO has promised stability and economic progress, something many citizens hope for as they await the opportunity to vote. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha; and interviews with Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and Shamshad Akhtar, Former Under-Secretary-General, UN; and Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Rich potential: Building upon its diverse strengths, the country is continuing on the path of steady and sustainable development
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Located at the heart of South-east Asia, the Kingdom of Thailand covers a total area of approximately 513,120 sq km, making it the 52nd-largest nation in the world by area. It is bound geographically by the nations of Cambodia to the east, Laos to the northeast, Malaysia to the south and Myanmar to the west. Its major natural boundaries include the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, which straddle the Kra Isthmus to the west and east, respectively. Thailand’s largest city is Bangkok, which has…

Viewpoint

Regional prosperity: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, on leveraging the ASEAN bloc to expand prosperity and shared growth in the region
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Viewpoint : Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha For over half a century ASEAN members have worked together to preserve peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Not only have we provided assistance to alleviate problems caused by natural disasters, but our members have successfully responded to one another’s emergencies in times of need. However, as we reach the 50th anniversary of the association it is a good time to seriously review what we can do to improve, in order to meet the expectations…

Overview

Tide of change: Efforts under way to bridge cultural and political divides
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Following the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October 2016, a major chapter in the history of the kingdom closed and another opened. With His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun now on the throne, the way ahead promises to be one of further development, with an active monarch as head of state. Meanwhile, the government of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha continues to rule following its removal of the civilian…

Analysis

To the polls: Preparations are made for a return to democratic rule
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Since coming to power after the military coup of May 2014 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has repeatedly reaffirmed the government’s intention to lead Thailand back towards democratic rule. The general elections are now expected to take place in May 2019. While the election date has been postponed before, the convergence of key factors may well see the ballot take place. The political and economic turmoil of the period leading up to 2014 has largely been halted by the administration of the National…

Interview

A strategic partnership: Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on enhanced cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam
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Interview : Nguyen Xuan Phuc How do you assess the future development of trade ties between Thailand and Vietnam? NGUYEN XUAN PHUC: In recent years the Vietnam-Thailand relationship has seen rapid development. Thailand is one of Vietnam’s largest trade partners in ASEAN, recording two-way trade of $12.5bn in 2016, and the 10th-biggest investor, with a total of $8.8bn in over 460 projects in Vietnam. Trade and investment are now the highlights of the growing bilateral relations. Thailand, one…

Analysis

On the road: China’s Belt and Road Initiative is reshaping South-east Asia
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The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) promises to radically transform a vast swathe of the world’s trade and transport infrastructure, which will have a marked impact on how Asia does business with the world and vice versa. Historical Precedent While it is a relatively new idea, the BRI also harks back to medieval times, when the Silk Road flowed between East and West. The Silk Road was a series of trade routes criss-crossing the Asian landmass. Its more famous travellers included Marco Polo and…

Analysis

On the road: China’s Belt and Road Initiative is reshaping South-east Asia
OBG
plus

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) promises to radically transform a vast swathe of the world’s trade and transport infrastructure, which will have a marked impact on how Asia does business with the world and vice versa. Historical Precedent While it is a relatively new idea, the BRI also harks back to medieval times, when the Silk Road flowed between East and West. The Silk Road was a series of trade routes criss-crossing the Asian landmass. Its more famous travellers included Marco Polo and…

Interview

On the horizon: Shamshad Akhtar, Former Under-Secretary-General, UN; and Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, on investment, the workforce and gender equality
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Interview :Shamshad Akhtar What impact do you anticipate Thailand’s next general election will have on levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country? SHAMSHADAKHTAR: Thailand has traditionally been an attractive investment destination, and that will not change. It is strategically located between South-east Asia and China, and has access to the ASEAN Free Trade Area, in addition to strong investment promotion agencies, such as the Board of Investment. Thailand is also…