Thailand's competitiveness has been climbing steadily over the past five years, according to analysis by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).

Of 60 countries surveyed by IMD, Thailand ranked 27th last year having climbed from 29th place in 2004.

IMD evaluated the countries' competitiveness based on economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. Its analysis spanned 2001 to 2005.

"At the moment Thailand is not the most outstanding country in Asia," Education Council secretary-general Amrung Jantawanich said yesterday.

The survey ranked Hong Kong second, Singapore third and Taiwan 11th last year in competitiveness.

"Our strongest area is our economic performance. We are in seventh place in this area," Amrung said.

Thailand also enjoyed the

lowest unemployment rate for three consecutive years, the secretary-general said.

Amrung said in government efficiency, Thailand ranked 14th but was 28th in business efficiency. "

But our weakest point is in infrastructure as we ended up in 47th place in this area last year," he said.

Amrung said infrastructure involved basic facilities, technological infrastructure, scientific infrastructure, health and

environment, as well as education.

Basic infrastructure covered things such as transportation quality and energy intensity, while technological infrastructure considered factors like broadband cost as well as computer or telephone use.

For health and environment, pollution problems and quality of life were reviewed.

For education, the student-teacher ratio and illiteracy were considered.

"Our ranking in education has improved. But compared with our neighbouring countries, we still lag behind and need to improve further," Amrung said.