consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian,
European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and
native African
Religions: mainland - Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs
20%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili
in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce,
administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in
Zanzibar), many local languages
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people
living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is
Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of
sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the lingua
franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most
people is one of the local languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili),
English, or Arabic
total population: 67.8%
male: 79.4%
female: 56.8% (1995 est.)
@Tanzania:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Data code: TZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Dar es Salaam
note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which
is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now
meets there on regular basis
Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma,
Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara,
Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga,
Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North,
Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
note: Ziwa Magharibi may have been renamed Kagera
Independence: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December
1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became
independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with
Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and
Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964
National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)
Constitution: 25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November
1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); note -
the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23
November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for
matters internal to Zanzibar; Dr. Salmin AMOUR was elected to that
office on 22 October 1995
cabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are
appointed by the president from among the members of the National
Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by
popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 29 October-19
November 1995 (next to be held 29 October 2000); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote - Benjamin William MKAPA 61.8%,
Augustine Lyatonga MREMA 27.8%, Ibrahim Haruna LIPUMBA 6.4%, John
Momose CHEYO 4%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats -
232 elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the
president, five to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives;
members serve five-year terms); note - in addition to enacting laws
that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly
enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own
House of Representatives to make laws especially for Zanzibar (the
Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats, directly elected by
universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA
October 2000)
election results: National Assembly: percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CCM 186, CUF 24, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, CHADEMA 3, UDP 3;
Zanzibar House of Representatives: percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CCM 26, CUF 24
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; High Court, judges appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo or
CHADEMA ; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM
(Revolutionary Party) ; Civic United Front or
CUF ; Democratic Party (unregistered) [Reverend
MTIKLA]; National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR
; Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga
MREMA]; Union for Multiparty Democracy or UMD ;
United Democratic Party or UDP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB,
ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI
chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 939-6125
FAX: (202) 797-7408
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. STITH
embassy: 285 Toure Drive, Dar es Salaam (temporary location)
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: (51) 666010 through 666015
FAX: (51) 666701
Flag description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from
the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green
and the lower triangle is blue
@Tanzania:Economy
Economy - overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the
world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts
for half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work
force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated
crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry is mainly limited to
processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World
Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have
provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic
infrastructure. Growth in 1991-99 has featured a pickup in industrial
production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by
gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta looks promising and
production could start by 2002. Recent banking reforms have helped
increase private sector growth and investment. Short-term economic
progress also depends on curbing corruption.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $23.3 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $550 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 17%
services: 34% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 51.1% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 30.2% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.8% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 13.495 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce
10% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1 billion
expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer,
cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining,
shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt
Industrial production growth rate: 8.4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.7 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.41%
hydro: 70.59%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.625 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 44 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum
(insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves
(Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits,
vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $828 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew
nuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal (1996)
Exports - partners: India 9.8%, Germany 8.9%, Japan 7.8%, Malaysia
6.5%, Rwanda 5.2%, Netherlands 4.7% (1997)
Imports: $1.44 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transportation
equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil
Imports - partners: South Africa 12.9%, Kenya 9.6%, UK 8.7%, Saudi
Arabia 6.6%, Japan 4.9%, China 4.6% (1997)
Debt - external: $7.7 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $963 million (1997)
Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 798.90 (January
2000), 744.76 (1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98 (1996),
574.76 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Tanzania:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 127,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 30,000 (1999)
Telephone system: fair system operating below capacity and being
modernized for better service; VSAT (very small aperature terminal)
system under construction
domestic: trunk service provided by open wire, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made
digital
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 8.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1999)
Televisions: 103,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (1999)
@Tanzania:Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,569 km (1995)
narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge
note: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates
1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and
Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km
are in Zambia) is not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation; because
of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to Tanzania
Railways
Highways:
total: 88,200 km
paved: 3,704 km
unpaved: 84,496 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
Pipelines: crude oil 982 km
Ports and harbors: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko, Lindi,
Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,618 GRT/26,321 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2,
roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 129 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 118
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 65
under 914 m: 35 (1999 est.)
@Tanzania:Military
Military branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes
Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit,
Militia
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 8,104,226 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,690,681 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $21 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.2% (FY98/99)
@Tanzania:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: dispute with Malawi over the boundary in
Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Illicit drugs: growing role in transshipment of Southwest and
Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for
European and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for
Southern Africa
______________________________________________________________________
THAILAND
@Thailand:Introduction
Background: A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th
century; it was known as Siam until 1939. Thailand is the only
southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European
power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional
monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became
a US ally following the conflict.
@Thailand:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 514,000 sq km
land: 511,770 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to
September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);
southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains
elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum,
timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 34%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 44,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
depletion of the water table; droughts
Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions;
water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil
erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Law of the Sea
Geography - note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and
Singapore
@Thailand:People
Population: 61,230,874
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population
and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age
and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 7,386,231; female 7,107,010)
15-64 years: 70% (male 21,102,363; female 21,714,411)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,726,043; female 2,194,816) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 16.86 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.55 years
male: 65.29 years
female: 71.97 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism
0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)
Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and
regional dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 96%
female: 91.6% (1995 est.)
@Thailand:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
Data code: TH
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Bangkok
Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and
plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat,
Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon,
Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep
Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son,
Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom,
Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat,
Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani,
Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit,
Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri,
Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo,
Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri,
Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat
Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai
Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
Constitution: new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October
1997
Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 15 November
1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister designated
from among the members of the House of Representatives; following a
national election for the House of Representatives, the leader of the
party that can organize a majority coalition usually becomes prime
minister
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists
of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 253-member appointed body which will be
phased into a 200-member elected body starting in March 2000; members
serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha
Phuthaen Ratsadon (currently has 392 members, but will become a
500-member body after the next election; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 17 November 1996 (next
scheduled to be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party
- NA; seats by party - NAP 125, DP 123, NDP 52, TNP 39, SAP 20, TCP
18, SP 8, LDP 4, MP 2, PDP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the
monarch
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP (Prachathipat
Party) ; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP (Seri Tham)
; Mass Party or MP [CHALERM Yoobamrung, SOPHON
Petchsavang]; National Development Party or NDP (Chat Phattana) [KON
Thappharangsi]; New Aspiration Party or NAP (Khwamwang Mai) [Gen.
CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut]; Phalang Dharma Party or PDP (Phalang Tham)
; Social Action Party or SAP (Kitsangkhom Party)
; Solidarity Party or SP (Ekkaphap Party) [CHAIYOT
Sasomsap]; Thai Citizen's Party or TCP (Prachakon Thai) [SAMAK
Sunthonwet]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BANHAN
Sinlapa-acha]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram (due to leave March
2000)
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: (202) 944-3600
FAX: (202) 944-3611
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard HECKLINGER
embassy: 120 Wireless Road, Bangkok
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: (2) 205-4000
FAX: (2) 254-2990
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue
(double width), white, and red
@Thailand:Economy
Economy - overview: After enjoying the world's highest growth rate
from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased
speculative pressure on Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis
that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government
to float the baht. Long pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached
its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998 and the economy
contracted by nearly 10% that same year. Thailand entered a recovery
stage in 1999; preliminary estimates are that the economy expanded by
about 4% - most forecasters expect similar growth in 2000. Beginning
in 1999 the baht stabilized and inflation and interest rates began
coming down. The CHUAN government has cooperated closely with the IMF
and adhered to its mandated recovery program, including passage of new
bankruptcy and foreclosure laws. The regional recovery boosted
exports, while fiscal stimulus buoyed domestic demand. While slow
progress has been made in recapitalizing the financial sector, tough
measures - such as implementing a privatization plan and forcing the
private sector to restructure - remain undone.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $388.7 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,400 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 39%
services: 49% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 37.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 32.6 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services
31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $20 billion
expenditures: $23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999
est.)
Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing,
beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry;
electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated
circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten
producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate: 12.6% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 85 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 91.44%
hydro: 8.56%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 80.293 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 138 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 700 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn,
sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Exports: $58.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: computers and parts, textiles, rice
Exports - partners: US 22.3%, Japan 13.7%, Singapore 8.6%, Hong Kong
5.1%, Netherlands 4.0%, UK 3.9%, Malaysia 3.3%, China 3.2%, Taiwan
3.2%, Germany 2.9% (1998)
Imports: $45 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, intermediate goods and raw
materials, consumer goods, fuels
Imports - partners: Japan 23.6%, US 14.0%, Singapore 5.5%, Malaysia
5.1%, Taiwan 5.2%, Germany 4.2%, China 4.2%, South Korea 3.5%, Oman
2.6%, Indonesia 2.1% (1998)
Debt - external: $80 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.732 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1 - 37.349 (January 2000), 37.844
(1999), 41.359 (1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Thailand:Communications