Thailand
Quick Facts
| Population | 69 million (2017) |
| GDP at PPP (current international dollars) | 1.2 trillion (2017) |
| GDP per capita at PPP (current international dollars) | 17,871 (2017) |
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With well-developed agro-industries and a highly competitive agriculture export program, Thailand has been a powerful promoter of subregional agricultural trade. Thailand has developed world renowned agriculture products, including Jasmine rice, and has established the capacity to use agriculture to decrease rural poverty and drive economic growth. The country is working to increase private sector participation in agriculture, and is cooperating with GMS partners in defending against cross-border disease, and building climate resilience.
Thailand is working with its GMS partners to mitigate global warming and lower carbon emissions throughout the subregion. This includes sharing information and working together on developing renewable energy, clean fuels, energy efficiency and conservation. Thailand has a policy of working with its GMS partners to develop local energy sources, such as biomass, solar, and wind energy that reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.
With abundant water, forest, fish, and wildlife resources, Thailand is improving water security, decreasing forest cover loss, and managing solid and hazardous waste within its borders and throughout the subregion. Thailand has decentralized management of the environment to local communities, and has partnered with the private sector to enhance and protect the environment. Thailand is home to the GMS Environmental Operations Center, which coordinates environmental initiatives for the subregion.
Thailand works with its GMS partners to maintain a wide range of human resource development activities. These include skills development and the mutual recognition of vocation skills. The country is also combating human trafficking, and has worked to decrease the cross-border transmission of disease.
As an active partner in subregional telecommunications programs, Thailand is developing cross-border connections under the GMS Information Superhighway Network. Thailand is also working with its GMS partners to develop information and communication technology for rural applications.
Thailand is one of the world’s top tourist destinations, and is seen as a gateway for promoting GMS as a single destination for global travelers. The country’s top destinations include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and seaside resorts in Pattaya and Phuket. The government is working to encourage sustainable tourism that highlights cultural identity, and promotes the conservation of nature and the environment.
As an active member of the GMS Business Forum, Thailand is promoting private sector investment in the subregion, and is encouraging Thai companies to trade with neighboring countries. Thailand is working with its GMS partners to improve trade by easing the flow of goods and services across borders. It is coordinating with subregional partners on customs procedures; inspection and quarantine measures, and trade logistics.
Thailand’s well-developed transport system is an important part of the GMS economic corridors, which focus investment and development on vital highway systems. Thailand has been a driver of economic growth on the North-South Economic Corridor (Kunming-Bangkok Road); the East-West Economic Corridor; and the Southern Economic Corridor. Thailand has worked with its GMS partners to upgrade portions of these important economic corridors and encourage cross border investments aligned with subregional highways.
The Myanmar government recently approved a project that will ensure the completion of the Greater Mekong Subregion East-West Economic Corridor, which stretches from Danang, Viet Nam to Yangon, Myanmar.
This energy sector assessment, strategy, and road map documents the current assessment and strategic investment priorities of ADB and the governments of the Greater Mekong Subregion countries in the energy sector.
This is the summary of proceedings of the 5th Meeting of the GMS Urban Development Task Force held in Bangkok, Thailand from 25–26 August 2016.
The Ministers from the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion issued a joint statement entitled "Spurring Inclusive Growth along the GMS Economic Corridors" at the 21st Ministerial Conference of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program held in Chiang Rai, Thailand on 30 November to 1 December 2016.
The 36th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Working Group was held on 7 January 2016 in Nan Province, Thailand.
The Thirty-Seventh Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG-37) was held on 4 July 2016 in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The meeting was co-organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and attended by representatives of the National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) of the six GMS countries (Cambodia, People’s Republic of China [PRC], Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam), MTCO, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), ASEAN-China Center and ASEAN-Japan Center
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic has built a new road with help from the Asian Development Bank, linking the tourist town of Luangprabang with the country’s border with Thailand.
BANGKOK, THAILAND (2 June 2016) – “Greening” road freight in the Greater Mekong Subregion will help participating countries achieve their Sustainable Development Goals, as well as providing economic benefits, delegates at a workshop in Bangkok heard today.
BANGKOK, THAILAND (12 March 2016) – The completion of work on a 105-km section of highway from Phisanulok to Lomsak to expand it from two lanes to four, supported by the Asian Development Bank, is expected to generate greater economic activity and increase local competitiveness
Major expansion in the Greater Mekong Subregion power sector will bring added environmental and social pressures, and more attention needs be paid to incorporating greater sustainability into the power planning process.