Thailand currently ranks lowest rung on Southeast Asia's economic growth 'ladder', according to the United Nations. The United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific's annual economic and social survey, called "Surging Ahead in Uncertain Times," found that Thailand's GDP grew 5 percent last year, following a 4.5 percent rise in 2005, and is expected to increase just 4.7 percent this year. The report also said that GDP growth for the whole of Southeast Asia was 7.9 percent last year. The UN group said Thailand was lagging behind the rest of the region because of hesitancy among foreign investors and ongoing political tensions. On a positive note, Thailand leads much of the Asian region in gender equality.
TNA