Thailand has a pro-business market economy driven by strong foreign investments and export oriented manufacturing especially in electronics, foods and automobiles. Thailand’s exports account for 60% of the country’s GDP. Thailand experienced strong economic growth prior to the Asian economic crisis of 1997 with GDP growth averaging 9.4% annually. However, the crisis adversely affected businesses in Thailand and saw the value of the Thai Baht decline by more than 50% against the US dollar. Since the crisis, the economy has grown on a growth path. Thailand’s GDP was US$163.5 billion with a GDP per capita of US$2,537 in 2004. Thailand’s GDP grew by an average of 4.6% annually from 2000 to 2004 driven mainly by exports of high technology products mainly electronics. Inflation remained below 2.0% from 2000 to 2003 but increased to 2.8% by 2004. However, unemployment showed a declining trend from 3.6% in 2000 to 1.8% by 2004. Nearly 60% of Thailand’s workforce is involved in the agriculture industry but contributed to only 9.8% of the country’s GDP in 2004. The services industry contributed towards 46.1% of Thailand’s GDP and manufacturing 44.1% during the period. Major industries include tourism, electronics, textiles and garments, processed foods, beverages, agriculture produce, jewellery, furniture, plastics, vehicles and vehicle parts and mining of tungsten and tin. Major agriculture products include rice, tapioca, rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybean and milk.

My Thai, Direct Importers celebrates 3 year  anniversary milestone.  Wilmington, DE—May 1, 2003–My Thai, General  Partnership, a Delaware based direct importer which  started operations May 1, 2000, offers quality handcrafted  products Made-in-Thailand at affordable direct imported tax  free Delaware prices. The style of My Thai’s hand woven  silks, accessories, jewelry, handicrafts and gift items is an  expression of both Traditional Thai Classical Crafts and  modern innovative handmade items. Whether you have $2  or $200 in your pocket, enter My Thai’s 1000 square foot  modernized Trolley Square showroom and you’ll be able to  find something truly unique. Starting from a card table and suitcase based in a 1  bedroom apartment 4 years ago My Thai was founded by  Thai native and recent immigrant Uthairat Nunthaponpisut  (26 years old at the time) and her American husband. With  little business experience, no retail experience, o credit rating and no money My Thai started as a dream that various business consultants and non-profit community  development counselors predicted less than a 10% chance  of making through its first year in business. What those  inaccurate predictions failed to account for was that for  everything My Thai lacked it was compensated for by a  surplus of vision, love and sheer determination.  Convincing relatives to front $30,000 in cash and co-sign a  lease My Thai has gone from $0 to grossing just under  $200,000 since opening for business. Debt free and  profitable My Thai has defied the odds in the post 9/11  economy. My Thai’s success can be attributed to hand  picked reasonably priced quality Traditional Thai  Handicrafts, a Traditional American “Mom & Pop Store”  business model and innovative, sometimes downright  guerilla marketing tactics. My Thai is continuously  campaigning online, via print, flyers, newsletters,  community fairs, direct mail, PR, anything and everything,  but more than anything else by word of mouth. My Thai  simultaneously represents the balance of respect/beauty of  Thai Culture and the fiercely Independent spirit of the  American Dream.  My Thai owner and Generel Partner Uthairat  Nunthaponpisut. Wilson was named a 2001 International  Who’s Who Business & Professional Woman Honoree by  The American Biographical Institute, Raleigh, NC.  Honorees were chosen for making significant contributions  to society. Uthairat was chosen for selecting alternative  women made Thai products to resale in USA & working  with women’s groups in Thailand such as the BanHun’s  Village Housewife Weaving Association in rural Issan,  Thailand to create an export market for their hand woven  products thus reviving Delaware’s lost Thai Silk importing  heritage first started by Jim Thompson a Delaware native  after World War II.