government's announcement of the general election in December 2007 and no violence after the court ruling of Thai Rak Thai Party's disbandment on May 31. Investors regained confidence in political stability

Annual Report 2009 1 Annual Report 20092 Over the past year, the Thai economy experienced a recession for the first time since the Asian economic crisis in 1997. The first quarter saw a 7.1 percent contraction as a result of sluggish export in the midst of global financial crisis, diminishing demand of domestic private sector, and lack of confidence in economic and political directions. All these factors played out against a backdrop of weakening economies of our trade partners worldwide, which...