Urban Growth and Power of Private Sector on Urban Governance of the Border Special Economic Zone in Mae Sot District, Thailand.

Abstract

          The objectives of this paper are: 1) to study the role of private sector of Mae Sot City to the development of the Mae Sot’s border SEZ; 2) to evaluate the capability of private sector on urban governance of the Mae Sot’s border SEZ; and 3 to investigate the perspective of local stakeholders on the role of private sector on effective urban governance of the Mae Sot’s border SEZ. Mixed methods were used to collect data, including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions for qualitative research; and a questionnaire for quantitative research. The data were analyzed by using content analysis, descriptive analysis, t-test and chi-squared test. This paper found that. 1) The city’s accumulation has been occurred continuously from the location of an important inland port of the state. From the accumulation, the private sector has become a key actor of the city on both the political and economic aspects from local to country level. They play an important role to advocate the Mae Sot’s SEZ establishment, and then the SEZ is the major driver of change of the recent rapid urban growth of the city. 2) The private sector has a high capability role on the city planning, policy advocacy as well as urban development. However, the city’s private sector has a low capability to effort inclusive benefit to the residents, particularly vulnerable groups. 3) The perspective of local stakeholders on the role of private sector for the effectiveness of urban governance of the Mae Sot city includes: 1) planning the city development policy linked to the residents and vulnerable groups’ benefit and; 2) co-invest with the local government to manufacture products and infrastructures for vulnerable groups of the city.