Tourism Festival 2554 Phuket Ranong surf.

Author: admin

15 Feb

.. Ranong is the land of charming small towns in the forest on the path of History Vivid nature. Beauty pure mineral water are good ways people attempt charming island. Majestic mountain beauty sweet grass Urhioo Saran moist juicy, sun-eight four rain “…

Ranong Province with Provincial Administration Ranong Muang Ranong Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office Chumphon Government agencies and private Ranong. Festival co-organized trip Andaman Ranong surf during the year 2554 18 – March 26, 2554 at the Inter City Lan purpose Ranong Ranong province to promote tourism. Create awareness of tourism potential, whether as a charming tourist destination unique. Magnificent culture of the province Ranong As well as stimulate economic revenue to the community area. Interesting events such as the fair market vintage performances of traditional light and sound delicious delicious menu with traditional dishes. Touch Spa mineral water business and the quality ranking of natural attractions and My other cultures.

That the Tourism Authority of Thailand Office Chumphon
Or http://facebook.com/tat.chumphon.

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Amazing Travel To Thailand

Author: admin

26 Jan

Amazing Travel To Thailand

Amazing Travel To Thailand

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Home Page > Travel > Destinations > Amazing Travel To Thailand

Amazing Travel To Thailand

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Posted: Sep 18, 2009 |Comments: 0
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It was a kingdom long before Westerners came and saw.Â But the Westerners never conquered this tiny Kingdom of Thailand.Â This Southeast Asian country is known as âThe Land of Smilesââa beautiful place with white beaches, golden temples, and roaming elephants.Â For those who want to enjoy the sun and the sea, they only have to go to the warm Andaman Sea; for people who want to see large numbers of might gray elephants, they can go to the Khao Sok rain forest where the animals have free rein.

Planning a trip to Thailand would not leave people broke and bankrupt when they return home.Â Choosing bargain round trip flights to Thailand from Australia and New Zealand are readily available from good carriers, such as Jet International, Tiger Airways, and Thai Airways.Â Travelers are advised to book their flights November to February.Â Bangkok is the hub for many Asia and Australasian flights.Â One word of caution though: hopping from Bangkok to Bali or Vietnam needs a special visa so it is best to carry extra passport photos, just in case.Â

With a few hundred dollars from quick cash loans, a group of friends could a take a backpacking trip to Thailand and there are plenty of things to enjoy for everyone.Â For the hardcore athletic types, they could choose from white-water rafting, kayaking, and even wakeboarding.Â For the ladies who lounge, the Thais are known for their invigorating massages and wellness spas.Â Even though itâs a small country compared to its neighbors like Vietnam and Cambodia, Thailand is full of things to do for adventurous touristsâfrom elephant rides to night market shopping!Â When in Bangkok, the crazy capital city, travel experts advise first time tourists not to take taxis because the place is known for crowded streets and terrible traffic.Â For a unique travel experience, first time tourists could try the river ferries and the Thaisâ very own motorcycle taxi innovation, popularly known as the tuk-tuk.

Although there are lots to see and experience in Bangkok, adventurous tourists are encouraged to go outside of the bustling city and plan to go to two other choice destinations such as Chiang Mai and Phuket.Â Â These are famous resort spots: the former is known for its gastronomic specialties and abundance of exotic animals, like the elephants and the monkeys (incidentally, these creatures have their own training school!) and the latter for its spa treatments and grand hotels.Â Although travelling is a time of letting go and enjoying every experience, first time tourists should always keep an eye on their travel budget and put close tabs on their reserved fast money so they could still use some when emergencies occur.

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Jessica Lang, online marketer of http://www.cashdoctors.co.nz, New Zealand’s preferred short term lender, shares his insights on money matters. Cash Doctors also help people in the long run by providing budgeting tools, e-books and individually researched articles on money matters and financial tips. The aim is to assist people in achieving instant and long term financial freedom.

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I need a personal loan of about 3,000 dollars, but only make about 15,500 a year and have horrible credit and only 3 months on the job. Is there anywhere that will lend me that kind of money?

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Start Business in Thailand

Author: admin

2 Apr

head Start Business in Thailand

STARTING A BUSINESS IN THAILAND

Forms of doing business in Thailand
In Thailand, it is generally advantageous to a foreign investor to have Thai participation in his venture, although foreign investment is limited only in certain key industries. A person, Thai or alien, may engage in business in the form of a single proprietorship, limited company, partnership, a joint venture, a branch of a foreign corporation, or a representative/ regional office.Partnership
Three types of partnerships in Thailand differ principally in the liability attached to each.

An unregistered ordinary partnership has partners who are all jointly liable, without any limitation on the partnership’ total obligations. A new partner in an unregistered ordinary partnership becomes liable for all obligations incurred by the partnership before or after his association with the partnership. This type of partnership is not a legal entity and is subject to taxation as if it were an individual.

A registered ordinary partnership is a juridical entity having a separate and distinct personality from each of the partners by virtue of its registration with the Commercial Registrar. A registered ordinary partnership is treated as a corporate entity for income tax purposes.

A limited partnership is one in which there are one or more partners whose individual liabilities are limited to their respective contributions, and one or more partners jointly liable without any limitation on all the oobligations of the partnership. A limited partnership is taxed as a corporate entity.

Private limited company
The Thai private limited company is similar to what is commonly referred to as a corporation. The company may be wholly owned by aliens. However, in those business activities reserved for Thai nationals, alien participation is generally allowed up to 49 per cent.

The liability of the shareholders is limited to the par value of the authorized capital. The liability of the directors, however, may be unlimited if so provided in the company’s memorandum of association or the articles of incorporation. The limited company is managed by a board of director according to the company’s charter and by laws.

Although there is no established minimum level of capitalization, the private. Limited company’s capital must be sufficient to accomplish its objectives. All of the shares must be subscribed to, and at least 25 per cent of the subscribed shares must be paid up. Both common and preferred shares of stock may be issued, but all shares must have voting rights. Thai law prohibits the issuance of shares with no par value; it also stipulates that only shares with par value of five bath or above may be issued.

Thai corporate law has some features which may be unfamiliar to foreign business persons. Among these are the prohibition on treasury shares and a rule that a private limited company’s shareholders must never be fewer than seven at all times. In addition, non-voting stock, whether common or preferred, is not permitted; the original authorized capital stock must be subscribed in full.

Public limited company
The procedure for setting up a limited public company is similar to that for a private limited company. The provisions of the Limited Public Company Act of 1992 allow a private company to be converted into a public company. The major difference between a public and a private company is that a private company is prohibited form offering shares to the public. Certain other differences are as follow:

Differences in setting-up procedures
0	Private Ltd Co	Public Ltd Co
Minimum number of natural Persons as promoters	7	15
Minimum number of shareholders Required at all times	7	15
Public subscription of shares By prospectus	Not allowed	Allowed
Public subscription of Debentures by prospectus	Allowed*	Allowed
Registration fee per Million bath of capital	5,500	2,000

*Under specified qualificationsJoint venture
A join venture may be described in accordance with general practice as a group of persons (natural and/ or juristic) entering into an agreement in order to carry on a business together. It has not yet been recognized as a legal entity under the Civil and Commercial Code.
However, income from a joint venture is subject to corporate taxation under the Revenue code, which classifies it as a single entity.

Branch of a foreign corporation
A company incorporated under foreign laws may establish a branch office to do business in Thailand. Branch offices are required to maintain only those accounts relating to the activities of the branch in Thailand. It is important, however, to clarify beforehand what constitutes income subject to Thai tax, as the Revenue Department may consider revenues directly earned by the foreign head office form sources within Thailand as subject to Thai tax.

As a condition for approval of an alien business License for a branch of a foreign corporation, Minimum capital amounting to three (3) million bath must be brought in to Thailand. This amount may be changed by subsequent Ministerial Regulations, A branch office may exist for an indefinite period up to its date of dissolution.

Representative office of a foreign corporation
A foreign entity may establish a representative office in Thailand to engage in limited non-revenue-earning activities. These activities are restricted to:

searching for local sources of goods or services for its head office.
Inspecting and controlling the quality and quantity of goods procured by its head office.
Providing advice in various fields relating to products directly sold by its head office to local distributors or consumers.
Disseminating information about new products and services of its head office.
Reporting to its head office on local business developments and activitiesThe minimum capital contributions in respect to branches also applies to representative offices.

Regional office of a multinational corporation
A multinational corporation may establish a regional office in Thailand to engage in limited non-revenue-earning activities are restricted to:

Contacting, coordinating, and supervising
Providing services to affiliated branches or subsidiaries such as: advisory and management services; training and personnel development; financial management; marketing control and sales promotion; and product research and development

All expenditures incurred by the regional office must be borne by the head office of the multinational corporation. The minimum capital requirements in respect to branches also apply to regional offices.

Corporate registration procedures
Limited Company:
Before forming a limited company, the chosen corporate name must first be registered and approved by the Commercial Registrar. A Memorandum of Association is then filed which contains: the approved name of the company, its business address, its objectives, personal details about the promoters and the shares subscribed by each, and data on the authorized capital of the company.

The next step is to hold a statutory meeting of shareholders during which the articles of incorporation and by-laws are approved, the board of directors is elected, the transactions and expenditures of the founders are ratified, and the authorized auditor is appointed. The directors may then register the company with the Commercial Registrar.

Branch, representative and regional office:
Foreign corporations wishing to do business in Thailand through a branch, representative or regional office must submit the required document, which documents issued by the Head Office must be notarized by a notary public or certified by the local Thai consulate or embassy.

Documents required register to a branch, representative or regional office in Thailand
Foreign corporations wishing to do business in Thailand through a branch, representative or regional office must submit the following documents

An affidavit from the manager or corporate officer, stating the following:

- name of the corporation, registration member, and date of registration;
- address of the registered office;
- jurisdiction under which the corporation is registered;
- name, address, nationality, age and race of each director, number of shares held by each, and identification of the director (s) with the power to bind the corporation;
- authorized capital of the corporation, number of shares and par value of each, and amount of paid-up capital stock, and
- total number of shareholders, their nationalities, and number of shares owned or held by each national group.

A power of attorney for the manager in Thailand giving him or her, in addition to the normal powers, the power to register the branch office with the pertinent Thai government authorities, and to act as the manager thereof.
Brief description of the objectives or details of the business and steps of work.

- Office address in Thailand and map thereof.
- Brochure or profile and annual report of head office.
- Details of technology transfer to Thai staff.
- Number and name of staff together with their salaries.
(Items 1-2 must be notarized by a notary public or certified by the Thai consulate or embassy abroad). These documents must not be more than six months old at the time of submission to the Commercial Registrar.
Well known projects/ clients/ products. (case by case)
Forecast plan and amount of expenses for the next three years.
Type, value and number of machinery/office equipment used in the business.

Tax registrations
An individual person who is subject to personal income tax must obtain a tax identification card from the Revenue Department within 60 days from the date of having income.

A business, which is subject to corporate income tax, must obtain a tax identification card from the Revenue Department within 60 days after its incorporation or registration.

All persons whose annual turnover exceeds Bath 1.5 million must register for value added tax within 30 days after the annual turnover has exceeded that amount, unless specifically exempted.

The application for VAT registration before the date of commencing business is also allowed under the conditions specified by the Director General of the Revenue Department.

Licensing a factory
Under the Factory Act 1992, factories are separated into three groups according to the gravity of impact of the factory operations on the public or the environment, as follows:

Group 1 – Factories that can operate immediately without prior government permission.
Group 2 – Factories that require prior notification of the pertinent government authority before the business starts operations.
Group 3 – Factories that require the application for a factory license before the establishment of the factory.

Before the establishment of a factory classified under Group 3, the operator must obtain a factory license from the Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of industry. Application for a license entails completing an official form, submitting drawings and particulars of the factory , machinery, and acceptable effluent treatment system, and attaching a set of documents stipulated on the form. These additional documents include statements of the amount of investment in factory establishment and operation, number and grades of factory employees, details of production, construction period for the factory, and the blueprints of the structures and the machinery that will be installed. The factory must be established in accordance with the approved plan and specifications.

The operator of a Group 3 factory must notify the competent authority at least 15 days before a factory test-run commences, and again 15 days before actual manufacturing operations start.

The factory license is valid up to the last day of the fifth calendar year from the year of commencement and is renewable. An application for renewal of the factory license must be filed to the authority prior to the expiration of that license. While the factory license is valid, the licensee must pay an annual fee for the said license as scheduled by the authority.

Licensees must also obtain prior permission from the Ministry of Industry for any factory expansion, transfer of machinery to other sites, or transfer of factory site. Permission is likewise required in order to transfer, lease, assign, or sell a factory operation.

Public offerings
A company, which wishes to issue shares or debt securities to the public, must comply with the regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission and the Securities Exchange of Thailand. A description of the activities of these bodies is outlined below.

Securities Exchange Commission
The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has regulatory control of he securities industry. The objectives of the SEC are as follow:

To provide a single legal framework for the development of Thailand’s capital markets. The SEC is responsible for overseeing the issuance by private companies of debt securities to the public and the review and approval of prospectuses.
To improve the level of investor protection. The SEC is responsible for the investigation of any breach of the laws relating to stringent information disclosure requirements, insider trading and takeover, and
To develop Thailand’s capital markets. For example, the SEC has sanctioned the establishment of foreign-backed mutual funds

Securities Exchange of Thailand
Under the Securities and Exchange Act 1992 the Securities Exchange of Thailand (SET) operates under the SEC. A board elected from the SEC and the member brokers operates the new SET. In short, the SET is responsible for the operating side of the exchange while the SEC is responsible for enforcement.

The SET is responsible for determining which companies will be allowed to list on the stock exchange. The SET has complete power to approver a company’s listing.

Investment incentives
Incentives under the investment promotion act

Government role
The Board of Investment (BOI) is the government agency responsible for administering incentives to encourage private sector investment in priority areas. The structure, role, and policies of the BOI today basically follow the guidelines contained in the Investment Promotion Act of 1977, as amended in 1991. The BOI is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes as members and advisors, key ministers and private sector representatives. The office of the BOI functions as the administrative arm of the Board. BOI has six regional offices in Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Surat Thani and Ubon Ratchathani and four overseas offices in New York, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Paris.

Foreign equity participation rules
The BOI uses the following criteria in considering the extent of foreign equity participation allowed in a promoted investment project:

Criteria	Maximum participation
1. Projects in agriculture, animal husbandry, fishery, mineral exploration and mining and service business under Schedule One of the Foreign Business Act 1999	49%
2. Manufacturing projects, in all zones,	100%
3. The Board may specifically fix the shareholding of foreign investors on some promoted projects when it is deemed appropriate.	0

The BOI has a policy of giving special consideration to investment projects which:

Locate operations in provincial areas.
Establish or develop industries, which form the base for further stages of industrial development.
Develop public utilities and basic infrastructure.
Conserve natural resources and reduce environmental problems.
Conserve energy or replace imported energy supplies.
Contribute to technological development.
Strengthen significantly the balance of payments.

Promoted company
The types of entities that may be promoted by the BOI and granted investment incentives are: a limited company, a foundation, or a cooperative. Application for promotion may be submitted in accordance with the rules, procedures, and forms prescribed by the BOI prior to the formation of the qualified promoted company.

Non – tax incentives for promoted companies
The following non-tax incentives may be granted to promoted companies:

Guarantees
- Against nationalization.
- Against competition of new state enterprises.
- Against state monopolies..
- Against price controls.
- Against tax – free imports by the public
Permission
- To own land.
- To bring in foreign nationals to undertake investment feasibility studies.
- To bring in foreign technicians and experts to work on the promoted project.
Protection measures
- Imposition of a surcharge on competing imported products of up to 50 per cent of CIF value for a period of one year at a time.
- Import ban on competing products.
- Implementation of other tax relief measures as appropriate.
Investment promotion zones
In line with the national goals of decentralizing and spreading the benefits of development to the country’s provinces, the BOI has divided all provinces of Thailand into three investment zones. Investors who set up their operations in provinces outside the central region of Thailand are entitled to a wider range of tax incentives. The three investment zones are as follows:
- Zone I: Six provinces, namely: Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Nontaburi, Pathum Thani, and Samut Sakhon.
- Zone II: Twelve provinces, namely: Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Ratchburi, Samut Songkram, Saraburi, Kanchanaburi, Ang Thong, Rayong and Phuket.
- Zone III: All the remaining fifty eight (58) provinces, and Industrial Estate in Rayong Province under conditions prescribed by BOI.

Tax incentives for promoted companies
BOI grants two major types of tax incentives to promoted companies: exemption or reduction of tariffs on imported machinery and equipment, as well as raw materials for the promoted activity, and exemption from income tax on net profits and dividends. The extent of these incentives varies according to the location of the promoted company.

Customs duty exemption
The general rules for granting import duty exemptions on the import of machinery and raw materials by promoted companies are outlined in the table below:

Duty reduction	Machinery	Raw materials
I	50% (A)	100% (B)
II	50% (A)	100% (B)
III	50%	100% (C)

Conditions:

Machinery is subject to import duty of 10% or more
For a period of one year, for raw & essential materials used in the manufacturing of export products.
For a period of five years.

Income tax exemption
In general, the duration of income tax exemption granted to promoted companies depends on the project’s location. The period of tax exemption generally starts from the date of the first sale.

Years of income tax exemption Zone	General	Conditional	Total
I	0	3 (A) + (B)	3
II	3 (A)	5 (A) + (B)	5
III	8 (A)	-	8

Conditions:

For project with capital investment of 10 million bath or more (excluding cost of land and similar international standard certification within two years from the start-up date. Otherwise the income tax exemption will be reduced by one year.
Located in an industrial estate or promoted industrial zone.

Additional fiscal incentives for projects located in zone III
Promoted activities located in Investment Zone III may also be eligible for the following additional incentives:

A project located in one of the following forty (40) provinces: Krabi, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Chumphon, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Trang Trat, Tak, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Swan, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Prachin Curi, Phangnga, Phattalung, Pijit, Phitsanulo, Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Mukdahan, Mae Hong Son, Ranong, Lop Buri, Lamphang, Lamphun, Loei, Songkhla, Sakaew, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Surat Thani, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Uttaradit, Uthai Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani shall be granted further privileges, as follows:
1. A project located within industrial estates or promoted industrial zones in entitled to the following privileges:
  - 50 per cent reduction of corporate income tax for five years after the exemption period;
  - double deduction from taxable income of transportation, electricity and water costs for 10 years from the date of first revenue derived from promoted activity;
2. For a project located outside industrial estates or promoted industrial zones, a deduction can be made from net profit of 25 per cent of the project’s infrastructure installation or construction cost for 10 years from the date of first sales, and net profit for one or more years of any year can be chosen for such deduction. The deduction is additional to normal depreciation.
A project located in one of the following eighteen (18) provinces: Kalasin, Nakhon Phanom, Narathiwat, Nan, Buri Ram, Pattani, Phayao, Phrae, Maha Sarakham, Yasothon, Yala, Roi Et, Si Sa Ket, Sakhon Nakhon, Sathun, Surin, Nong Bualamphu, and Amnat Charoen shall be granted further privileges as follows:
1. 50 per cent reduction of corporate income tax for five years after the exemption period;
2. double deduction from taxable income of transportation, electricity and water costs for 10 years from the date of first revenue derived from promoted activities;
3. Deduction can be made from net profit of 25 per cent of thee project’s infrastructure installation or construction cost for 10 years from the date of first sales, and net profit for one or more years of any year can be chosen for such deduction. The deduction is additional to normal depreciation.

Priority activities
BOI places priority on promoting the following types of projects: agriculture and agricultural products, direct involvement in technological and human resource development, public utilities and infrastructure, environmental protection and conservation, and targeted industries.

BOI shall announce the list of priority activities or industries. Such projects will be entitled to the following privileges: exemption of import duty on machinery regardless of location; corporate income tax exemption for eight years, regardless of location; other privileges entitled for each zone.

Source: American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand

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Export

Author: admin

2 Apr

head Export

The other fastest growing area is the PRC, with a predicted growth rate of 6.5 percent in 2000. The impact of this growth on consumption is perhaps even more important. With some exceptions, such as Hong Kong, Asia has experienced decreasing population growth rates. Much of the additional GDP in Asia is expected to go directly into the ability to spend on new goods and services. China, for instance, has reduced its birth rate from 26 per 1,000 population in 1975 to only 17 in 1996. Indonesia’s birth rate has gone from 40 to 23 over the same period. Thailand has been even more successful, reduce

EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES
World economic growth
export4 Export Gglobalization took a step backward in 1998 after many years’ progress, world output growth fell sharply from a strong 4.2 percent in 1997 to 2.2 percent. The crisisinduced contraction of many Asian developing economies, the Russian devaluation and default, the fiscal problems and currency instability in Brazil, and the deepening recession in Japan all had an impact on the world economic slowdown. The economic slowdown caused a significant import contraction, while export volumes started to pick up in the second quarter of 1998, pointing the way to an export recovery. This indicates opportunities to expand Thai exports. Regulatory and technological change are the other factors that will vary from country to country and therefore open better opportunities for Thailand in some geographic areas than in others.

Growth in the industrial countries was strong in 1998, with the exception of Japan. The sizes of these markets make growth attractive. The Asian developing economies experienced their slowest growth in a decade (averaging -6.9 percent in Southeast Asia and -1.4 percent in the newly industrialized economies), however, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and most South Asian economies managed substantial growth (Asian Development Outlook 1999).

In developing countries such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, the rising share of exports in gross domestic product (GDP) in 1980-1997 attests to a growing exposure to international trade. Developing countries are indeed exporting more to their industrial counterparts. The growth of trade is firmly buttressed by international institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) to build on the legacy of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The successful completion of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations and the growing popularity of regional trading arrangements (RTAs) have created considerable momentum for integrating countries further into the global trading system.

Thailand’s main export markets will continue to be the more developed countries, but at the same time economic growth in some developing countries opens up prospects for new markets. Based on growth rates alone, it seems like South Asia and the PRC should be major targets for Thai exports. Even though South Asian growth will decline from an annual average rate of 5.7 percent in 1998 to 5.5 percent by the end of 1999, its growth is expected to continue to 5.8 percent in 2000.

In the birth rate from 34 to 18 per 1,000 (Asian Development Bank 1998). With the PRC and South Asian growth rates averaging 6.5 percent and 5.8 percent in 2000, low population growth allows consumption per capita to grow over two percent annually. This, coupled with the tremendous size of the market – China and India’s combined population alone is more than two billion, or over one third of the world’s total population – can lead to steep increases in purchases of consumer goods.

Growth, of course, is not the only factor that creates economic opportunities for Thailand. These opportunities will be influenced by a variety of factors, including trade liberalization, the impact of regional groupings such as ASEAN, NAFTA and the European Union, the mobility of capital, and the effect of technological developments in telecommunications and computerized production.

Multilateral trade liberalization
In 1995, the creation of the WTO built on the GATT is the latest multilateral step toward creating an environment conducive to the exchange of goods and services. In the past 15 years, mainly due to the environment created by the GATT and the WTO, many developing economies have unilaterally reduced their trade barriers. The trend toward outward-oriented trade policies is not confined to any continent or region, it predates the completion of the Uruguay Round. Nevertheless, a number of other important measures must follow to maintain the momentum for reform. The Millennium trade discussion is scheduled to start in November 1999 under WTO auspices, which will require an agenda for broader trade liberalization. For the developing countries, it is important to be fully engaged and use the technical expertise to achieve at favorable outcomes in areas such as liberalization of agricultural trade and trade in those services of greatest relevance to their future development.

Multilateral trade negotiations are not the only means of tilting the political balance to favour trade liberalization. Many industrial and developing countries are signing RTAs with neighboring countries. This regionally based liberalization has increased intra-regional trade and investment flows. Developing countries succeeded in substantially reducing their levels of tariff protection, especially non-tariff barriers (NTB) protection, during the past decade. A number of developing countries, both within and outside Asia, had already reduced their tariffs on imports to below Uruguay Round levels by 1997. Recent trade liberalization has been the greatest in the Southeast Asian countries, however, average tariff rates remain relatively high in these countries (20-30 percent) for two categories of goods: food and miscellaneous other manufactures.

Concluded in 1994, the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations includes the establishment of a new round of negotiations on agriculture and services, starting in January 2000. The Uruguay Round agreement on trade in agricultural products laid the foundation for future liberalization. Countries agreed to convert non-tariff agricultural barriers into tariff barriers and to set their tariffs at or below a certain level at the bound tariff rate. Similar maximums were agreed to for export subsidies and domestic subsidies. The Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures that resulted from the Uruguay Round seeks to strike a balance between protecting the well-being of human health and unnecessary restrictions by ensuring that sanitary and phytosanitary regulations do not deliberately discriminate against foreign suppliers.

In regard to trade in textiles and clothing, the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) will be phased out over a 10-year period, which commenced in 1995 and which is scheduled to be completed by January 2005. The downside is that each country can choose the order in which it will liberalize particular product lines. Therefore, the greatest improvements in access will not be seen until the end of the phase-in period. Despite the longstanding MFA, Thai firms have achieved growth by diversifying products and markets.

Thailand has experienced more competition from lower wage countries such as China and Vietnam, however, the depreciation of the bath should result in a resurgence of textile and clothing exports. Thai manufacturers still have time to upgrade quality, increase productivity, improve technology and develop market niches, toward ensuring the longevity of domestic production bases. Some Thai firms have invested in neighboring countries to take advantage of lower labour costs and to increase access to quota shares allocated on a national basis under the MFA regime.

In response to the Third WTO Ministerial Conference and the New Round, the Thai government has agreed to participate in new issues as follows:

Transparency in government procurement regulation – Thailand will sign the agreement, under the condition that developing countries should have a minimum of a three-year adjustment period and it is subject to ratification thereafter.
Trade and investment – as Thailand has a policy of foreign direct investment promotion, it is rational to support trade and investment negotiations. Nonetheless, under such negotiations, it excludes investment incentive measures, investment condition measures, and dispute resolution between public and private sectors.
Labour – Thailand agreed in principle to support the EU countries organizing Standing
Working Forum in a form of a joint ILO-WTO seminar, which is a special round and disregards labour standards as a condition under the WTO.
Correction of rules and procedures understanding for WTO dispute settlement – Thailand agreed to make corrections to sections 21 and 22.
Establishment of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) – Thailand will join as a member and founder of the ACWL.

Capital mobility
A trend complementing the unprecedented increase in world trade is the dramatic increase in capital movements. Capital has long flowed between countries, with the direction of flow generally running from the rich to poorer countries.

Official and private flows of capital to developing Asia were roughly equal in magnitude in the mid-1980s, a surge in private capital flows, especially to East and Southeast Asia, since then has resulted in their making up a much larger fraction of total capital flows to the region. Net private capital flows to the PRC and Southeast Asian countries were less than two percent of their GDP in 1985, but they had grown to more than five percent of GDP by 1995. Compared with flows to these economies, the size of capital flows to the East and Southeast Asian economies have made greater strides toward liberalizing capital flows than South Asia. A distinct change has occurred in the composition of private capital flows in recent years. While the majority of private capital flows to the Asian Developing Economies (ADEs) consisted of bank and trade-related lending in the early 1980s, the past decade has seen a significant increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) and portfolio bond and equity flows. Thailand has also been successful in attracting such foreign capital.

The available investment monies are not sufficient to meet demand as numerous countries develop. The result is that many countries and sub-national regions are locked in competition with one another for investment inflows. In terms of investment in the so-called productive sectors, tax holidays and tariff reductions on imported inputs are among the most common incentives available to investors in developing countries. One of the major achievements of the Uruguay Round was the agreement on Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMs). The TRIMs agreement set the protocol for the eradication of competition over FDI, which generally benefits the investor at the expense of labour and the environment. Nevertheless, the TRIMs agreement has only addressed the use of measures which tie investment promotion to certain performance criteria, specifically, the use of local content requirements (LCRs) and the use of trade balancing requirements.

The developed countries, led by the United States, have increasingly pressured the developing countries to open their finance and banking sectors to foreign investment. In the case of Thailand, the increased number of Bangkok International Banking Facilities (BIBFs) resulted in a dramatic increase in debt held by Thai firms, including short-term dollar denominated debt for longer-term projects. Also, a number of non-competitive projects were able to secure financing for project start-up; this was particularly true in the real estate sector. The bursting of the speculative bubble in the property market, accompanied by the downward slide of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the depreciation of the bath, has caused ripple effects throughout the productive sectors. The Thai lesson is not that financial liberalization in itself is inadvisable, rather, financial liberalization requires the concomitant development of a strengthened set of rules governing the banking and finance sector, accompanied by an effective monitoring system which is open and free from political interference.

The global information super highway
A factor affecting the speed and mobility of capital flow is the rapidly increasing speed and volume of information flows. The so-called “information super highway” will have a significant impact on Thailand’s ability to attract investment and trading partners in the future. The most efficient companies have learned to lower their overhead expenses by producing exactly those goods that world markets demand, at the right time, in the correct quantities, and in the exact styles needed. This type of decision-making requires an enormous flow of information at very fast rates through multi-point systems.

The world information technology market – whose products include personal computers and workstations, multi-user computer systems, data communications equipment and packaged software – grew by about 12.2 percent a year in real terms between 1985 and 1995, almost five times faster than world GDP. The production of information technology remains highly concentrated – with more than 90 percent in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. However, the use of modern communications media is expanding rapidly in other countries. Meanwhile, the Internet has become the best known and most widely used medium for the collection of information technology applications. Demand for services available through the Internet continues to increase and as the market available through the Internet expands, new services are being created.

The year 2000 (Y2K) problem arises from the common practice in older computer programs of designating years by the last two digits only. It is expected to affect systems in many different sectors, including communications, banking, public utilities, health care, and defense. It has the potential to seriously disrupt public and private sector operations at all levels. The precise dimensions of the Y2K problem are not known, but the global cost of fixing it is often estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Although the first and necessary step in addressing the Y2K problem is to be aware of it, its solution will require resources, financial as well as human and technical.

These developments are equally important for Thai companies investing outside of Thailand. To remain competitive as they internationalize, Thai companies will have to develop the capability to manage information flows to and from their overseas investments. Thailand’s public and private sector leaders will need to follow the development of the telecommunications industry closely to both understand the available resources in other participation in the world information system. At the same time, they will need to understand how to use the new tools offered by advancing information technology, such as the world
wide web, teleconferencing, video conferencing, electronic data interchange and so on.

Overview of Thailand’s economic relations with the major countries and regions of the world
Thailand’s overall trade activity has accelerated since the mid-1980s when the country’s policy makers made a conscious decision to move from import-substitution policies to exported growth. Thailand has registered a trade deficit every year since 1987, however, the bulk of its imports have been used in
productive investment.

Thailand’s growing exports
export2 Export Thailand has been extremely successful in expanding its exports, with growth rates between 14 percent and 28 percent per year from 1990 until 1998. Compared to the structure of exports in the 1970s or even the 1980s, the structure of Thailand’s exports in the 1990s has clearly diversified into a wide variety of products.

Exports continued to be the main factor preventing the Thai economy from contracting. In 1998, export volume grew by 8.1 percent during the first half of the year. Exports which showed substantial volume increase were manufacturing exports using high technology, including electronics and automobile products, and agricultural exports, such as rice and canned fish. Nevertheless, total export value decreased by 6.8 percent, resulting from the slowdown of the world economy and financial crises in Asian countries. The value decline was caused mainly by the 13.8 percent reduction in export prices following intense price competition among Thailand’s major competitors, whose currencies also depreciated substantially, while the export volume increased at a lower rate than in the previous year

Some investors in Thailand will be tempted away by investment incentives and cheap labour in neighboring countries such as China, Vietnam and Indonesia, which will lead to further stagnation of Thai exports. Skilled, but relatively low cost, labour gave impetus to exports such as garments, footwear, jewelry, integrated circuit boards and other electronic products, including hard disk drives and keyboards. These industrial sectors have received rapid increases in foreign direct investment and domestic capital accumulation. It is unclear which of these industries will remain competitive into the future as new competitors have emerged. These countries, with their large domestic markets, are receptive to foreign investors.

There are reasons to be optimistic about Thailand’s export outlook. The private sector is forward looking and a number of firms are already in the process of upgrading. Thailand’s natural resource advantages will ensure the longevity of the jewelry industry and agricultural sector. The downstream move into the processing industries for freezing and canning has led to a rise in exports of processed foods such as canned tuna fish and chilled or frozen shrimp. And some firms in the computer industry are using cutting-edge production processes. These are only examples of the dynamism of Thailand’s private sector.

Looking at Thailand’s major export markets, the NAFTA countries, especially the US, are the largest export market with the export share rising from 19.4 percent in 1997 to 22.3 percent in 1998. This is partly due to the bath’s depreciation and Thailand’s ability to retain market share. The second largest market is the European Union with the export share rising to 17.8 percent. Japan remains Thailand’s largest single market. Meanwhile, the export value to the Asia Pacific (comprising ASEAN, GMS, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea) declined by 18.6 percent.

Thailand’s imports
Generally, imports are examined by looking at the economic purpose and the major import products. In terms of purpose of imported goods, it is clear that more than three-quarters of Thai imports are capital goods, and intermediate products and raw materials. These types of goods and materials are used in expanding industrial capacity and supply inputs into many of Thailand’s export industries.

The value of imports in 1998 was 1,774.1 billion bath, an eight percent decline from the previous year when the financial crises hit Thailand. Nearly one-quarters of Thai imports originated in Japan. This reflects Japan’s high level of investment in Thailand. The NAFTA, the ASEAN and EU member countries are other major source countries.

Investment patterns: foreign direct investment inflows and Thailand’s investment outflows
Although inward foreign direct investment has been one of the growth factors of Thailand’s economy, another factor has been the outward flow of investment funds from Thailand to the rest of the world. Since the 1990s, the amount of outward investment funds from Thailand has played significant role.

Foreign direct investment export3 Export
Two government agencies track foreign direct investment data in Thailand, the Board of Investment (BOI) and the Bank of Thailand (BOT). The BOT’s net foreign direct investment figures account for both the inflows and related outflows of foreign investments, while the BOI tracks inward investment on a project-by-project basis. In the sections for each geographic region that follow, BOT foreign direct investment and Thai outflow statistics will be considered along with the BOI figures for those regions that have substantial investment activity in Thailand

By way of an overview, Figure 4.6 plots the level of foreign direct investment into Thailand each year. These flows reached a high point in 1990 (during the period of 1985-1996), however, inflows in 1997 and 1998 have rapidly increased again after the financial crises. As opposed to thinking of such inflows on an annual basis, such inflows should be considered as contributing to the stock of FDI, with depreciation of this stock occurring on an ongoing basis. Recent annual inflows have maintained and increased the total stock of foreign direct investment in Thailand.

The main sources of Thailand’s inward foreign direct investment have historically been Japan, the US, and Hong Kong, which account for over half of the total foreign direct investment Thailand has received over the period 1970-1998. Other major sources of investment capital include Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland.

The sectors receiving high levels of foreign direct investment in recent years include financial institutions, manufacturing industries (such as machinery and transport equipment, and electrical appliances), and trade.

Thailand’s outward investment flows
Prior to 1993, Thai outward flows were lower than US$200 million. Thailand’s outward investment began to surge from that time and reached a peak in 1996. Even in 1996, the outward flows started to increase slightly. In 1997, Thai outward investment dropped suddenly, primarily due to the drastic slowdown in economic activity and liquidity problems faced by the private sector.

Major destinations for outward investment include the ASEAN countries, the GMS, and the PRC. These investments were channeled mostly into the manufacturing industry and services sector. In 1996, Thailand’s Prime Minister formed a special committee to examine the country’s outward investment flows and to find ways to support the investing activities of Thais abroad. This committee has the task of prescribing measures that could increase those flows. The committee decided in July 1996 to target the countries of the GMS, ASEAN, South Asia, Mexico, Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the PRC. The industries and services targeted for special promotion include: agro-industries, fisheries and livestock, textile and garments, jewelry and ornaments, electrical appliances, construction, construction materials, hotels and tourism, transport and telecommunications, as well as natural resources development projects that would include petroleum, mining, electricity, and petrochemical projects.

The data available from the BOT does not fully measure outward investment. Transactions financed through borrowing from overseas banks, or through reinvesting profits from one subsidiary to another, would not be measured. Despite these limitations, the BOT data clearly demonstrates the trend toward Thai’s investing abroad.

Thailand’s economic relations with North America export1 Export
In terms of both exports and imports, Thailand’s trade with North America, or the NAFTA countries, is dominated by its trade with the United States. The US has been Thailand’s number one export market for several decades, and the US has been the number two supplier of imports to Thailand (after Japan). Thailand has maintained a trade surplus with the NAFTA countries since the mid-1980s, and the gap has broadened in recent years. The Thai-registered surplus was 271,554.5 million bath in 1998, soaring from 24,046.3 million bath and 92,849.5 million bath in 1996 and 1997, respectively.

In terms of exports, data processing machines surpassed garments as the export of largest value since 1996. Other exports to NAFTA include (in order of value): garments, canned fish, electronic integrated circuits, shellfish, radios and televisions, precious stones and jewelry, footwear, rubber products, and travel goods.

Trade with the United States
Exports to the US accounted for 22 percent of total Thai exports in 1998. With a population of 270 million people and GDP per head of US$31,487 (The Global Competitiveness Report 1999, World Economic Forum), the US is still the largest market in the world. Relatively strong economic growth in the US – at approximately three percent in 1998 (the growth was generally robust, compared to the negative tone of the world markets) – has helped keep the US market strong. At the same time, inflation has remained under control at about 1.6 percent.

Leading Thai exports to the US include high-technology products, agricultural products, and textiles. Imports supplied to Thailand include industrial inputs and raw materials, as well as high-technology products that are not produced locally.

US exports to Thailand are particularly important since Thailand has consistently shown a trade surplus against that country. Meanwhile, imports from the US have recently dropped in the wake of the Thai financial crises beginning in mid-1997. The development of NAFTA has had an impact on Thai trade patterns with the US. While Thailand has access to a larger market (US, Canada, and Mexico), it also faces increased price competition from Mexico in some product lines.

Another issue affecting Thai exports is the use of anti-dumping measures and counter-veiling duties on Thai products, as initiated by US producers and carried out by the US government. Anti-circumvention measures could become a highly potent instrument of protection. Given the high degree of global integration and multinationals operating simultaneously, determining the origin of goods is often difficult.

The dispute over the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) has also affected US-Thai trade relations. US efforts to control the piracy of intellectual property throughout the world have resulted in the loss of General System of Preferences (GSP) privileges for several countries, including Thailand, and trade tensions have endured for a decade. The passage of a copyright protection law and efforts by Thai officials to clamp down on intellectual property rights violations represent significant progress in this area.

Investment patterns
The share of US investment in Thailand is second only to Japanese investment in Thailand. Many Thai export industries have benefited from foreign direct investment by US companies, in particular the computer and telecommunications industries. US investment has brought in significant technology transfer, particularly in such industries as computers and parts, computer software, gas and oil development, refineries, petrochemicals and a variety of service industries such as banking and insurance.

The US has been trying to secure greater market access in regard to services. It faced a great deal of resistance in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) talks. The GATS issue is at the top of the US’s trade agenda. Increased openness is desirable as it will improve service provision to the individual and it will strengthen the private sector. In Thailand, there is a great deal of vested interest in maintaining the status quo in some sectors, for instance, telecommunications, and there is nationalistic resistance in regard to others, for instance, banking and finance. For these reasons, progress on the liberalization of service industries will not come easily. In regard to Internet services, customers located in Thailand can by-pass inefficient, over-priced Thai Internet access providers (IAPs) and obtain service directly from US-based firms. The fact that IAPs are over-priced in Thailand can be at least partially attributed to the oligopoly functioning upstream. The decreased competitiveness of downstream telecommunications services should provide an impetus for liberalization of the industry.

Investment between Thailand and the US has been reciprocal. The US receives the large portion of overseas Thai investment funds. Thai business people have invested over 100 million US$ in the US in 1997. This is equivalent to approximately 18 percent of total Thai overseas direct investments.

Preview of the main regional groupings that have an impact on Thailand’s business prospects
In addition to long-term trade barrier reduction under the WTO, several areas have implemented, or at least initiated, regional arrangements to reduce tariffs and other barriers to trade. Regional trade arrangements, such as the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR), the European Union (EU), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), have substantial trade diversion effects that have a world-wide impact.

Countries outside of these groupings must face the reality of trade diversion. Under trade diversion, imports, which were formally purchased from countries outside of the regional bloc, are presently substituted with goods from other countries within the bloc since the price has become more appealing due to lowered trade barriers. Trade diversion is a fact that Thai exporters and investors should consider as they decide on points of market entry. Regional trade arrangements in Asia are limited. The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum, as the most important regional institution in Asia, has a strict principle of nondiscrimination in trade policy. The two institutions in Asia that appear in the WTO register of regional trade agreements are the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area and the South Asian Preferential Trade Area. Nevertheless, neither of these institutions has promoted significant preferential trade policy.

The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) was formally launched in 1992, with the goal of integrating production structures toward improving ASEAN’s export outlook in the world market. The chief tool used is the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme, which initially targets the removal of tariff barriers. By 2003, the tariffs on manufactured goods will be reduced to the 0-5 percent range. In order to qualify for the CEPT rate, the member country must have a tariff rate not higher than 20 percent on that product and an ASEAN content of 40 percent.

Members of the AFTA have generally opted for liberalizing trade on a multilateral basis, so that any tariff reductions they undertake as a part of their obligations are extended to nonmembers as well.

Strategic options for improved economic performance in the world market
Looking forward to developing a strategy for improving Thailand’s economic performance in the world market, both in terms of exports and in terms of investment activity, there are several factors to be considered: diversification and growth in Thailand’s top markets; activities of Thai private sector companies and associations to foster trade with new markets; the value of the Thai bath; and lastly, government-led efforts to improve trade regulations and to promote specific industries. Although government-led activities are important to the fortunes of Thai companies abroad, and the impressions that foreign investors have of Thailand, it is equally important to remember that Thailand’s economic performance depends on the decision-making and activities of Thai companies.

Lower export prices and constraints on export financing contributed the major impact on decreases in export earnings in dollar terms, however, export volumes grew steadily in 1998. The bath depreciation should help promote the growth of exports. The decline in imports was far more dramatic (a decline of 32.3 percent in 1998), as a result, the current account balance registered a surplus of US$13.5 billion (11.5 percent of GDP), showing a large turnaround from a deficit equivalent to two percent of GDP in 1997.

Recently, while Thailand has shown signs of moderate recovery in private consumption and manufacturing production, the decline in private investment has continued and the performance of the external sector has remained weak. The immediate challenge is to promote growth. When the government adopted the stabilization program in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in August 1997, it involved eliminating the current account deficit and stabilizing the exchange rate, but at the cost of a severe recession. Moreover, the unsettled conditions in the region have also reduced expected export demand and delayed the recovery in private capital flows.

The government has adjusted its macro-economic policy stance appropriately since early 1998 in response to the recession. Fiscal policy has been relaxed to allow larger public sector deficits, which should help to stimulate the economy. Meanwhile, the government has also adjusted its monetary policy to reduce interest rates. To restore growth sufficiently, other factors in addition to the fiscal and monetary policies include the success of financial sector restructuring and the progress made in recapitalising financial institutions, restoring investor confidence, resuming liquidity flow to the real sector, and improving the external economic environment.

Thailand’s trade and investment activities are largely conducted with the US, Japan, the EU, and increasingly, ASEAN, the NIEs of Northeast Asia and the PRC. Economic growth in the US is on track and the world’s largest market will continue to provide opportunities for Thailand’s exports. Similarly, economic growth in the EU provides a positive sign for Thai exporters to that market.

Even with the widespread regional contraction in 1998, a number of Asian countries are in the process of recovering from the economic downturn. Taiwan, Hong Kong, the PRC, Singapore, and South Asian countries were able to avoid the impact of the regional slowdown on their trade. Therefore, the Asian market will eventually become active and provide opportunities again.

In addition to maintaining and/or increasing economic activity in Thailand’s more traditional export markets, Thai companies are exploring new market niches and developing new business relations. In addition to trade, bi-lateral investment flows between Thailand and ASEAN countries have increased.

Trade with countries in South Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, Africa, and Australia and Oceania also continued to grow, however, sometimes resulting in an increased trade deficit for Thailand. Still, this is in keeping with the broader trend toward globalization. Efficient information flows are crucial to successful economic performance, where both accuracy and speed are crucial. More and more countries recognize that investors and traders need sufficient information about economic trends and opportunities before executive decisions can be made. The Thai government has made strides in information dissemination as it has gone on-line. Information flows between Thai embassies and consulates abroad and Thai nationals can be facilitated through the heightened exchange of information via the Internet. This is already occurring, but could be improved through closer contacts and more frequent exchanges.

Government-led efforts to improve the trade and investment environment
Although the private sector is the engine of growth in Thailand, government efforts can also provide support and assistance. Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomatic posts can assist Thai companies and foreign investors and traders through their information gathering and sharing activities, as well as helping to familiarize Thai companies with the changing rules of the world market. The WTO, AFTA, and other regional institutions, groupings, and agreements will have an important impact on the rules that govern international economic activity. Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomatic posts can make a significant contribution if they can explain and inform Thai businesses about these changing rules and new mechanisms. The promotional activities of the Board of Investment have been instrumental in encouraging foreign investment. Despite the economic slowdown, Thai investment activities abroad are
also encouraged through government-led efforts to support Thai economic activity abroad. Since investments and trade usually go hand-in-hand, the efforts to increase outward investment would likely lead to an increase in export trade as well.

Ultimately, whether Thai companies invest abroad or engage in trade activities will depend on those companies and the managers that make executive decisions. Government-led programmers and activities can certainly provide support and information – the key ingredients in any executive decision.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Shopping

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2 Apr

head Shopping

Shopping

WHAT TO BUY
Many bargains await you in Thailand if you have the space to carry them back. Always haggle to get the best price, except in department stores. And don’t go shopping in the company of touts, tour guides or friendly strangers as they will inevitably – no matter what they say – take a commission on anything you buy, thus driving prices up.

Thai silk, cotton, nielloware, silverware, bronzeware, pottery and celadon, pewter, precious stones, finished jewelry and a dazzling range of folk handicrafts make memorable gifts and souvenirs. International standard ready-made sportswear and leisurewear is inexpensive and quality tailors and dressmakers offer reliable 24-hour service in Bangkok and major tourist destinations.

Textiles thaisilk1 Shopping
Fabric is possibly the best all-round buy in Thailand. Thai silk is considered the best in world- the coarse weave and soft texture of the silk means it is more easily dyed than harder, smoother silks, resulting in brighter coulours and a unique lustre. Silks, can be purchased cheaply in the North and North – East where it is made or, more easily, in Bangkok. Excellent and reasonably priced tailor ships can make you choice of fabric into almost any pattern. A Thai silk suit should cost around 400 to 6,500 Baht. Chinese silk is available at about half the cost – “washed” Chinese silk makes inexpensive, comfortable shirts or blouses.

Cottons are also a good deal – common items like the phaakhamaa (reputed to have over a hundred uses in Thailand) and the phaasin (the slightly larger female equivalent) make great tablecloths and curtains. Good ready- made cotton shirts are available, such as the maw hawn (Thai work shirt) and the kuay haeng (Chinese -style shirt). See the sections on Pasang in the Northern Thailand chapter and Ko Yo in the Southern Thailand chapter for places to see cotton-weaving.

In recent years, cotton-weaving has become very popular in the North-East and there are fabulous finds in Nong Khai, Poi-Et, Khon Kaen and Mahasarakham. The mawn khwaan, a hard, triangle-shaped pillow made in the North-East, makes a good souvenir and comes in many sizes. The North – East is also famous for its mat-mii cloth, thick cotton or silk fabric woven from tie-dyed threads – similar to Indonesia’s ikat fabrics.

In the North you can find Lanna-style textiles based on intricate Thai Lu patterns from Nan, Laos and China’s Sipsongpanna (Xishuangbanna).

Fairly nice batik (pa-te) is available in the South in patterns that are more similar to the batik found in Malaysia than in Indonesia.

Clothing
Tailor-made and ready-made clothes are relatively inexpensive. If you’re not particular about style you could pick up an entire wardrobe of travelling clothes at one of Bangkok’s may street market (e.g. Pratunam) for what you’d pay for one designer shirt in New York or Paris.

You’re more likely to get a good fit if you resort to a tailor but be wary of the quickie made of inferior fabric or the poor tailoring means the arms start falling off after three weeks wear. It’s best to ask Thai or longtime foreign resident for a tailor recommendation and then go for two or three fittings.

Shoulder Bags
Thai shoulder bags (yaam) are generally quite well made. They come in many varieties, somewoven by hill tribes, other by Northern Thai cottage industry. The best are made by the Lahu hill tribes, whom the Thais call “Musoe”. The weaving is more skiful and the bags tend to last longer than those made by other tribes. For an extra-large yaam, the Karen-made bag is a good choice, and is easy to find in the Mae Sot and Mae Hong Son areas. These days many hill tribes are copying patterns from tribes other than their own.

Overall, Chiang Mai has the best selection of standard shoulder bags, but Bangkok has the best prices – try the Indian district, Pahurat, for these as well as anything else made of cloth. Roi-Et and Mahasarakham in the North-East are also good hunting grounds for locally made shoulder bags. Prices range from 50 Baht for a cheaply made bag to 200B for something special.

Antiques
Real antiques cannot be taken out of Thailand without a permit from the Fine Arts Department. No Buddha image, new or old, may be exported without permission – again, refer to the Fine Arts Department, or, in some cases, the Department of Religious Affairs, under the Ministry of Education. Too many private collectors smuggling and hoarding Siamese art (Buddhas in particular) around the world have led to strict controls.

Chinese and Thai antiques are sold in Bangkok’s Chinatown in two areas: Wang Burapha (the streets which have Chinese “gates” over the entrance) and Nakhon Kasem. Some antiques (and many fakes) are sold at the Weekend Market in Chatuchak Park. Objects for sale in the tourist antique shops are fantastically overpriced, as can be expected. In recent years Northern Thailand has become a good source of Thai antiques – prices are about half what you’d typically pay in Bangkok.

Jewellery
thai%20gems Shopping Thailand is one of the world’s largest exporters of gems and ornaments, rivalled only by India and Sri Lanka. The International Colorstones Association (ICA) relocated from Los Angeles to Bangkok’s Chan Issara Tower a few years ago, and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has established a bourse in Bangkok – two events that recognize that Thailand has become the world trade and production centre for precious stones. The biggest importers of Thai jewellery are the USA, Japan and Switzerland.

Although rough stone sources in Thailand itself have decreased dramatically, stones are now imported from Australia, Sri Lanka and other countries to be cut, polished and traded here. There are over 30 diamond-cutting houses in Bangkok alone. One of the results of this remarkable growth of the gem industry – in Thailand the gem trade has increased nearly 10% every year for the last 15 years – is that the prices are rising rapidly.

If you know what you are doing you can make some really good buys in both unset gems and finished jewellery. Gold ornaments are sold at a good rate as labour costs are low. The best bargains in gems are jade, rubies and sapphires. Buy from reputable dealers only, unless you’re a gemologist.

The biggest gem centres in Thailand are Kanchanaburi – these areas are where the Bangkok dealers go to buy their stones. The Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (Tel. (02) 513-2112; fax 236-7803), 484 Ratchadaphisek Rd. (off Lat Phrao Rd. in the Huay Khwang district, north-east Bangkok), offers short-term courses in gemology as well as tours of gem mines for those interested. You can bring gems here for inspection but they don’t assess value, only authenticity and grading.

The Jewel Fest Club
Jewellery and gemstones from Thailand are favourite items for many visitors to the Kingdom. Their beauty, quality craftsmanship and reasonable prices have earned Thai precious and semi-precious stones an unmatched reputation worldwide.

Occasionally, however, visitors encounter unethical jewelers who sell jewelry at unreasonable prices. With the cooperation of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association (TGJTA) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Jewel Fest Club was established, bringing together 46 leading jewelry manufacturers and wholesalers. The club’s aim is to offer quality products at reasonable prices with a money-back guarantee if buyers are not completely satisfied with their purchases. Retail outlets bear the emblem featured here for ready identification.

When you purchase an item of jewellery from a store that is clearly identified as a member of the Jewel Fest Club, your purchase will be duly recorded and a certificate detailing your purchase will be issued. Not only does this certificate of authenticity clearly state the nature and price of your purchase, it also guarantees your refund should you wish to return the purchase, cut by 10 % it you return the merchandise to the point of sale within 30 days, and by 20 % after 30 days but within 45 days of purchase.

For more details about the club and the benefits offered, contact Tel: (66-2) 235-339,(66-2)267-5233-7 Fax : (66-2) 267-5238,(66-2) 235-3040

Gemopolis
As the name suggests, Gemopolis is a self-contained complex, some 300 acres in size, in eastern Bangkok, that is devoted to every aspect of gemstone and jewellery production and trade, inclusive of gemstone and diamond refinery, jewellery design and manufacture, and retailing and exporting finished products around the world. Visitors who would like to witness the manufacturing processes and shop for quality gemstones and jewellery at fair prices in a secure environment can contact Tel: (66-2) 727-022 (21 lines) for complete details.

Warning
Be wary of special “deals” that are offered for one day only or which set you up as a “courier” in which you’re promised big money. Many travellers end up losing big. Shop around and don’t be hasty. Remember: there’re no such thing as a “government sale” or a “factory price” at a gem or jewellery shop; the Thai government does not own or manage any gem or jewellery shops.

Hill-Tribe Crafts
Interesting embroidery, clothing, bags and jewellery from the North can be bought in Bangkok at Narayan Phand, Lan Luang Rd, at branches of the Queen’s Hillcrafts Foundation, and at various tourist ships around town. See Things to Buy in the Bangkok chapter for details.

In Chiang Mai there are ships selling handicrafts all along Thaphae Rd and there is a ship sponsored by missionaries near Prince Royal College. There is a branch of the Queen’s Hillcrafts Foundation in Chiang Rai. It’s worth shopping around for the best prices and bargaining. The all-round best buys of northern hill-tribe crafts are at the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar – if you know how to bargain.

Ceramics
benjarong1 Shopping Many kinds of hand-thrown pottery, old and new, are available throughout the kingdom. Most well known are the greenish Thai celadon products from the Sukhothai -Si Satchanalai area and Central Thailand’s benjarong or “five colour” style. The latter is based on Chinese patterns while the former is a Thai original that has been imitated throughout China and South- East Asia. Rough, unglazed pottery from the North and North – East can also be very appealing.

Lacquerware
Thailand produces some good lacquerware, much of it made in Myanmar and sold along the northern Myanmar border. Try Mae Sot, Mae Sariang and Mae Sai for the best buys.

Styles available today originated in 11th century Chiang Mai; in 1558 Myanmar’s King Bayinnaung captured a number of Chiang Mai lacquer artisans and brought them to Bago in central Myanmar to establish the incised lacquerware tradition. Lacquer comes from the Melanorrhea usitata tree (not to be confused with “lac”, which comes from an insect), and in its most basic form is mixed with paddy-husk ash to form a light, flexible, waterproof coating over bamboo frames.

To make a lacquerware object, the craftsperson first weaves a bamboo frame. If the item is first-quality, only the frame is bamboo; horse or donkey hairs will be wound round the frame. In lower-quality lacquerware the whole object is made from bamboo. The lacquer is then coated over the framework and allowed to dry. After several days is it sanded down with ash from rice husks, and another coating of lacquer is applied. A high-quality item may have seven layers of lacquer altogether.

The lacquerware is engraved and painted, then polished to remove the paint from everywhere except in the engravings. Multi – coloured lacquerware is produced by repeated engraving, painting and polishing. From start to finish it can take five or six months to produce a high-quality piece of lacquerware, which may have as many as five colours. Flexibility is one characteristic of good lacquerware. A top-quality bowl can have its rim squeezed together until the sides meet without suffering damage. The quality and precision of the engraving is another thing to look for.

Lacquerware is made into bowls, trays, plates, boxes, containers, cups vases and many other everyday items. Octagonal-topped folding tables are another popular lacquerware item.

Nielloware
This art came from Europe via Nakhon Si Thammarat and has been cultivated in Thailand for over 700 years. Engraved silver is inlaid with niello- an alloy of lead, silver, copper and sulphur – to form striking black- and – silver jewellery designs. Nielloware is one of Thailand’s best buys.

Other Crafts
handicraft Shopping Under Queen Sirikit’s Supplementary Occupations & Related Techniques (SUPPORT) foundation, a number of regional crafts from around Thailand have been successfully revived. Malang thap collages and sculptures are made by the artful cutting and assembling of the metallic, multicoloured wings and carapaces of female wood -boring beetles (Sternocera aequisingnata), harvested after they die at the end of their reproductive cycle between July and September each year. Hailing mostly from the North and North – East, they can nonetheless be found in craft ships all over Thailand.

For “Damascene ware” (known as kram in Thai), gold and silver wire is hammered into a cross- hatched steel surface to create exquisitely patterned bowls and boxes. Look for them in more upscale Bangkok department stores and craft shops.

Yaan lipao is a type of intricately woven basket made from a hardy grass in Southern Thailand. Ever since the Queen and other female members of the royal family began carrying delicate yann lipao purses, they have been a Thai fashion staple. Basketry of this type is most easily found in the Southern provincial capitals, or in Bangkok shops that specialize in regional handicrafts.

Furniture
Rattan and hardwood furniture items are often good buys and can be made to order. Bangkok and Chiang Mai have the best selection of styles and quality. Teak furniture has become relatively scarce and expensive; rosewood is a more reasonable buy.

Fake or Pirated Goods
In Bangkok, Chiang Mai and all the tourist centres, there is black-market street trade in fake designer goods; particularly Benneton pants and sweaters, Lacoste (crocodile) and Palph lauren polo shirts, Levi’s jeans, and Rolex, Dunhill and Cartier watches. Tin-Tin T- Shirts are also big. No -one pretends they’re the real thing, at least not the vendors themselves. The European and American manufacturers are applying heavy pressure on the Asian governments involved to get this stuff off the street, so it may not be around for much longer.

In some cases foreign name brands are legally produced under licence in Thailand and represent good value. A pair of legally produced Levi’s 510s, for example, typically costs US$ 10 from a Thai street vendor, and US$ 30 to US$ 40 in Levi’s home town of San Francisco! Careful examination of the product usually reveals tell- tale characteristics that confirm or deny the item’s legality.

Prerecorded cassette tapes are another illegal bargain in Thailand. The tapes are “pirated”, that is, no royalties are paid to the copyright owners. Average prices are from 25 to 35 Baht per cassette for amazingly up-to-date music. Word has it that these will disappear from the streets, too, under pressure from the US music industry.

In 1991 four of the major tape piraters (including market leaders Peacock and Eagle) agreed to stop producing unlicensed tapes, but only on condition that the police prosecute the myriad smaller companies doing business. As of 1996 it was becoming quite difficult to find pirated tapes anywhere in the country except on Bangkok’s Khao San Rd. Licensed tapes, when available, cost 70 to 110 Baht each (average price 90 Baht); Thai music tapes cost the same.

Other Goods
Bangkok is famous the world over for is street markets – Pratunam, Chatuchak Park, Khlong Toey, Sampeng (Chinatown), Banglamphu and many more – where you’ll find things you never imagined you wanted but once you see, you feel you can’t possibly do without. Even if you don’t want to spend any money, they’re great places to wander around.

For top- end shopping, the two main centres in Bangkok are the areas around the Oriental Hotel off Charoen Krung (New) Rd and the River City shopping complex on the river next to the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel. At the other end, Thailand’s two big department store chains, Robinson and Central, offer reasonable priced clothing, electronics and houseware at several branches in Bangkok as well as in the larger towns.

WHERE TO SHOP
Shoppers in Bangkok have a wide choice of areas in which to pursue their search for bargains, most of them located within walking distance of major hotels.

One such area, for example, is along Silom and Suriwongse Roads in the vicinity of the Dusit Thani Montien, and Tawana Hotels. This includes Robinson’s department Store, Central Department Store, the Charn Issara Shopping Centre, dozens of silk shop, antique and decorative reproduction shops, boutiques of ready-to-wear women’s clothes, men’s tailors and shops selling leather wear and other goods.

From the Ratchaprasong intersection, near the Meridien President Hotel, it is but a short walk to the Amarin Plaza shopping Centre Department Store in one direction and to Ratchadamri Arcade and Narayana Phand Store in another. Directly opposite Narayana Phand is the world Trade Centre, and enormous complex with two department stores and hundreds of boutiques selling everything imaginable. Also nearby are the upscale Peninsula Arcade and Galleries Lafayette.

Off the Ratchaprasong intersection eastward to Sukhumvit Road stands the Emporium shopping Centre, where brand name clothes and fashionable decorative items are found in attractive and unique style.

Shoppers should not overlook Bangkok’s many department stores, which offer locally made goods as well as designer name brands and feature alluring sales. Twice a year, visitors can take advantage of the month-long Amazing Thailand Grand Sale, which is held throughout Bangkok and other major cities. Watch for the Grand Sale, which takes place in June, and again in mid-November and offers valuable discounts on all kinds of goods.

Also worth visiting are several air-conditioned shopping complexes the offer a wide variety of goods and prices. The Oriental Plaza. In an atmospheric old building houses jewelry and Thai handicrafts as well as clothing and fabrics. River City Shopping Complex, located adjacent to the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, has two floors devoted to small shops selling antiques and decorative items as well as a main floor that features exhibits of art, handicrafts, antique furniture, paper products, plants and more, Siam Centre and Siam discovery Centre near the Siam Inter continental Hotel are filled with numerous fashionable boutiques and in the vicinity is Mah Boon Krong.

{add shoping1.jpg} A particular favorite with younger Thais, this teeming emporium contains hundreds of shops as well as the Tokyu Department Store.

As comfortable as these centres are, any serious shopper will also want to explore some of the city’s markets for their colorful atmosphere and generally lower prices, Pratunam, near the Indra Regent Hotel, specializes in ready-to-wear clothing of all kinds. Opposite the Pratunam shopping complex is Nai Lert Market offering a variety of inexpensive trendy products, ranging from hairpins to shoes. Don’t miss the delicious oriental food sold here at very low prices.

Near the Grand palace is Khao San Road filled with clothes, jewellery and accessories popular among the backpackers and younger crowds. Just up from Khao San stands Banglamphu Market, which has authentic Thai goods and contemporary products.

In the older section of town, at the corner of Phahurat and Chakraphet, is the Phahurat cloth Market, where locals go for textile bargains, while Sampheng Lane and Yaowarat, both in Chinatown, have countless shops selling. Gold, jewellery, cooking utensils and other items.

The biggest market of all, and the most fascinating, is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, open on Saturday and Sunday at Chatuchak Park, not far from the Central Plaza Hotel. Here, just about everything Thailand makes or grows is on sale, from blue-and -white porcelain to hybrid orchids, and huge crowds go there to buy or just to enjoy the market atmosphere.

shopping3 Shopping Another much smaller market is the Pat Pong night market that has good souvenirs, but nothing like what’s available a Chatuchak.

The Floating Market, despite the emergence of the ubiquitous farm pick-ups, paddy farmers and orchard gardeners still continue to meet and barter their products in age-old trading sports on the canals (Khlongs). Early every morning, sampans laden with all kinds of tropical fruits and vegetables and fresh products, wind their way to the floating markets around Bangkok. There is one particular floating market in Bangkok that visitors can enjoy: Taling Chan Floating Market is a weekend market in front of Taling Chan District Office, open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Boat trip services are available for sight-seeing along the canal where gardens and a village lifestyle are still to be seen. The market is also accessible by bus No. 79 and 83, which pass nearby. Contact Taling Chan District Office on telephone 424-1742 for more information.

floatmarket2 Shopping Outside Bangkok, the main city for shopping is Chiang Mai, the unquestioned centre of traditional Thai handicrafts. Visitors can find beautiful sandstone pieces, antiques and more. The Night Bazaar, is a good place to sample the full tange of local products such as cotton, lacquerware, silver hilltribe clothing, Burmese tapestries, painted umbrellas and woodcarvings. While in Chiang Mai, make a point of going to some of how these goods – particularly lacquer, silk, silver and paper umbrellas – are actually made.

Pattaya also has many shops selling Thai goods and a particularly wide selection of precious and semi-precious stones since the popular resort lies near Chanthaburi, where numerous gem mines are located. Hat Yai, a district in Songkhla province in Southern Thailand is home to the Kim Yong Market, Where tax-free electronic goods, dried fruits and clothes are sold at very low prices.

SHOPPING TIPS
Department stores and a number of shops in Bangkok have fixed prices; some department stores will even offer a discount on expensive items like jewelry and fine furniture. No fixed rules can be given on the process, depending as it does on the bargainer’s skill and the shop keeper’s mood, but the final price may be reduced as much as 30 percent to that first quoted. An important point to keep in mind is that Thais admire good manners and a sense of humour and tend to be put off by a loss of temper. Providing you have the time, a good general rule is to make a survey of several shops selling the sort of items you want before coming to a final decision.

PACKING AND SHIPPING SERVICES
Thanks to the ever-increasing number of tourists coming to Thailand. Most shops are experienced at shipping abroad and will attend to all the documents such as insurance, customs and necessary permits. The Central Post Office also offers a parcel-wrapping service for those who want to make small shipments themselves . For larger items or bulk shipments, there are several Bangkok companies who specialize in such matters.

TRADING OPPORTUNITIES Neckties Shopping

{add Neckties.jpg} The Department of Export promotion (DEP), Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, offers the “Permanent Exhibition,” a one -stop export showcase where quality products manufactured in Thailand are on display. The exhibition features more than 250 selected exhibitors with more than 10,000 items on display in three exhibition areas. The same services are also available at DEP regional offices.

You can browse to your heart’s content, viewing top quality products ranging from gift item and handicrafts, furniture, toys, leather products, artificial flowers, garments, food products, construction materials, automotive parts, hardware, tools and appliances, stationery and sporting equipment, to name only a handful of the items on hand. All are carefully selected for reliability and a high standard of workmanship.

If you find products that suit your requirements, you may contact the manufacturers directly of DEP staff can provide a variety of services to help make things easy. For example, they will arrange appointments with many companies and also provide meeting rooms with full office facilities. All of the permanent exhibition services are free of charge.

For more information, please contact the Thai Trade Centre or a Commercial Counsellor’s Office at a Royal Thai Embassy in your own country. In Bangkok, contact the Department of Export Promotion on Ratchadaphisek Road. Tel: (66-2) 551-5066-77, Fax: 66-2) 512-1075, (66-2) 513-1917 Telex : 82354 DEPEP TH.

VAT REFUND
Visitor to Thailand can now claim VAT refunds at Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat-Yai and Phuket airports for a minimum purchase of 5,000 Baht with no less than 20,000 Baht/receipt/day. Upon purchase, visitors should request the store to process a Vat refund form (por.por.10) When departing, visitors have the customs stamp the form prior to airline check-in.

When passing through Passport Control, visitors will have the form processed by the Revenue Department and receive a VAT refund. Please note that valuable merchandise such as jewellery, watches, eyeglasses and pens must be declared before customs and revenue officials.

Shopping Information from Tourism Authority of Thailand

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