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Bangkok, known in
Thai as Krung Thep
Maha Nakhon or Krung
Thep for short, is
the capital of and
largest city in
Thailand, with an
official year 2000
census population of
6,355,144, but
actually numbering
at least twice that.
Bangkok is
located at 13°45′N
100°31′ECoordinates:
13°45′N 100°31′E, on
the east bank of the
Chao Phraya River,
near the Gulf of
Thailand.
Bangkok is the 22nd
most populous city
in the world.
Although Bangkok now
has roughly 7
million registered
inhabitants, the
actual population is
much higher, and
including commuters
from the surrounding
areas, may reach an
estimated 15 million
people during the
day time, making the
city one of the most
densely populated in
the world. Recently,
the value of
Bangkok's economic
output has matched
that of Singapore,
making
Bangkok a major
economic and
financial centre in
Southeast Asia.
Bangkok has one of
the fastest rates in
the world for
construction of high
rise buildings. The
city's wealth of
cultural sites makes
it one of the
world's most popular
tourist
destinations.
The Bangkok Province
borders 6 other
provinces: Samut
Prakan, Samut Sakhon,
Chachoengsao, Pathum
Thani, Nonthaburi
and Nakhon Pathom.
Bangkok is the
economic centre of
Thailand,
dominating the
country's economy
and dwarfing other
urban canters. In
2005, it produced a
GDP (PPP) of about
USD 220 billion,
which accounts for
43 percent of the
country's GDP. Its
GDP (PPP) per capita
is roughly USD
20,000, one of the
highest in Southeast
Asia. The Stock
Exchange of Thailand
is located in
Bangkok with
over 400 listed
companies and
combined market
capitalization of
about 5 trillion
Baht (USD 120
billion) as of 5
January 2006. Due to
the large amount of
foreign
representation,
Thailand has for
several years been a
mainstay of the
Southeast Asian
economy and a key
center in Asian
business. In the
recent mini-crash
known as Black
Tuesday, the SET
lost over Bt 800
billion or USD 25
billion in value,
causing markets in
the Asia-Pacific to
fall and causing a
global impact on
December 17, 2006.
The loss of market
valuation evoked
fears of a repeat of
the Asian Financial
Crisis of 1997;
however, a partial
policy reversal saw
market gaining back
nearly all of the
value lost.
Reach family,
friends and work
colleges and make
your cheap phone
call today to
Bangkok.
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