Inherently, Thailand has developed with the agriculture as the basis of their economy. Although the shares of agriculture in the total domestic product or in the export dollars are diminishing, agriculture still plays an important role in the economy and two third of the total population are working in the agricultural sector.
Their export items have been shifting from primary products to processed products and the degree of processing has been sophisticated. Under these circumstances, the agricultural industry has grown to be an important one.
The objectives in the 7th socio-economic development plan for the agriculture are the important challenge to sustain the growth of the agricultural sector as well as protection of the natural resources.
(2) Fishery
Their annual fishery reaching about 3 million tons, Thailand is one of the largest fishing countries of the world. Thailand is exporting, among other things, canned or frozen sea products. In recent years, export of frozen sea products mainly canned tuna and cultivated black tigers is showing a stable growth. In terms of canned tuna, Thailand outrivaled the U.S. and is the world largest supplier.
(3) Mining industry
The Thailand mining industry contributes to the GDP only by 3 %. Although the typical resources are tin and zinc, they have recently become active in deposit reconnaissance of gold and copper. Their potassium deposit is unique in Southeast Asia. In 1980 Thailand was the second largest tin exporting country following the U.S. but in a past decade, aggravation of the international tin prices forced the trade volume down to one fifteenth as it used to be.
