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| Capital city: |
Bangkok |
| Surface area: |
513,000 sq km |
| Population: |
67.1 million |
| Official language(s): |
Thai |
| Head of State: |
H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Head of Government: |
Prime Minister HE Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva |
| Australian exports to Thailand: |
A$4,947 million |
| Australian imports from Thailand: |
A$10,749 million |
| Thailand's principal export destinations: |
USA, Japan, China |
| Thailand's principal import sources: |
Japan, China, USA | (Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)
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For the latest key economic indicators and statistics, please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country economic fact sheet.
Thailand concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Australia at the end of 2004 and the Agreement came into force on the 1 January 2005.
The Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement is a major market opening agreement. With its implementation on 1 January 2005 many went straight to zero per cent while others fell below that payable by competing nations. Thai tariffs on virtually all goods imported from Australia will be eliminated by 1 January 2010. It will also substantially improve the environment for bilateral services, trade and investment.
Australian business is urged to take a close look at the new opportunities created by the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The reduction of Thailand's high tariff barriers (for some tariffs up to 200 per cent) means that exports may now become viable for a range of products. Opportunities are also opening in Thailand for Australian service providers, investors, manufacturers and processors.
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Governed by a constitutional monarchy, Thailand has a bicameral legislature system with a House of Representatives and a Senate. Thailand’s 76 provinces each administered by an appointed Governor are divided into districts, sub-districts (tambons) and villages. |
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The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises 10 member countries: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei-Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Cambodia.
Thailand's relationship with other ASEAN countries is good, however, border disputes between Thailand, Burma and Cambodia are sometimes still an issue. In recent times tensions with Malaysia have increased in the southern border area where there has been problems with violence associated with separatists. One of the key objectives of ASEAN is to narrow the economic divide within ASEAN and enhance ASEAN trade and service competitiveness as a region. Essentially, it provides a framework for regional cooperation through which the more developed ASEAN members can assist those member countries more in need and thus achieve common goals.
As well as being a part of the Asian Free Trade Area (AFTA) Thailand is now working closely with other ASEAN members to establish a free trade area with other countries such as India, China, Japan, Korea and the Closer Economic Relationship (CER) with Australia and New Zealand. The negotiations between ASEAN and each of the other countries are expected to be concluded within two years in order to become full fledged FTAs by 2015 or at the latest 2020.
Please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country economic fact sheet for key trade statistics.
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