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 Sixteenth Meeting of the Subregional Transport Forum (STF-16) was held in Nay Pyi Taw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, on 24–25 October 2012. The Forum was jointly organized by the Ministry of Rail Transportation (MORT) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Special 12th RPTCC meeting (RPTCC-12-A) was held mainly to continue discussions on the inter-governmental MOU to establish the Regional Power Coordination Center (RPCC), which will oversee the evolution of the GMS power market toward a more open, but appropriately regulated competitive market.
The Atlas celebrates the peoples of the Greater Mekong Subregion, and presents the environmental and development challenges they face and their responses.
Over the past 20 years, the Greater Mekong Subregion Program has achieved substantial success in improving regional connectivity through investments of $15 billion as well as more than 180 technical assistance projects.
This document summarizes the outcome of the 11th meeting of the GMS Working Group on Human Resource Development in Yangon, Myanmar on 1-2 November 2012.
Trade facilitation of agri-food products can potentially reduce trade barriers, lower transaction costs, foster efficiency along the supply chains, and reduce poverty in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
This collection of images illustrates the progress and challenges of 20 years of work in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Program, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners, has scored impressive gains in promoting regional connectivity over the past 2 decades.
The Ninth Meeting of the GMS Working Group on Agriculture (WGA-9) was held in Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China, on 4-6 July 2012, with the theme "Innovative Financing through Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Regional Investment in Low Carbon Agriculture in the GMS". The Meeting was organized and sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture, PRC, and attended by participants from the six GMS countries (Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam), and ADB.
BANGKOK, THAILAND (17 February 2012) – Policy-makers from the Greater Mekong Subregion will meet in Bangkok next week to discuss the challenges and opportunities for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.