1. Country Paper Thailand ……….. 14 - 27 March 2010 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

3. General Information of the Country

4. Thailand has a land area of 513,115 sq. km. bordered by Malaysia (South), Myanmar (North and West), Laos (North and East) and Cambodia (Southeast). Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country. The climate is monsoons, marked by a pronounced rainy season lasting from about June to October and a relatively dry season for the remainder of the year. Temperatures are highest in March and April and lowest in December and January. Thai is the national language and English is widely understood in cities. Population is approximately 65 million (2005). Buddhism is the national region of 90%. Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and others are embraced by the rest of the population.

5. Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentarian form of government. Thailand's capital, known internationally as Bangkok but to Thai as Krung Thep (City of Angels) sprawls over an area of some 1,500 square kilometers on both sides of the Chao Phraya River. Established in 1782 by King Rama I, founder of the Chakri Dynasty, Bangkok has been the home of the Royal Family ever since. Today, Bangkok is home to over 6 million people. Here also are located all government ministries, the police and military headquarters, the Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhist faith, the most prestigious universities and schools, the best medical facilities, important international organizations, and the greatest collections of art, museums, newspaper publishers and television stations.

7. Pattani Provincial Cooperative Office Pattani Provincial Cooperative Office is one of 75 Provincial Cooperative Offices under the Cooperative Promotion Department which is responsible for supervising and promoting all cooperative within their respective areas and Ya Ring Aquaculture Production, Ltd. is included. Its function of the Office is divided into 3 groups and 1 section and mobile unit as follows:- 1. General Administration Section 2. Cooperative Establishment and Promotion Group 3. Cooperative Business Development Group 4. Cooperative Management System Development Group 5. Cooperative Mobile Unit

8. Background Information Ya Ring Aquaculture Production Cooperative, Ltd. is located at 173/3 Moo 1, Yamoo Sub-district, Ya Ring District, Pattani Province 94150 .The Cooperative was registered on 17 May 2001. In the initial stage, there are 360 members/household and 44,550 of share capital. Ya Ring Aquaculture Production Cooperative, Ltd. Pattani Province