Development of Border Special Economic Zones

Abstract

          This academic paper aimed to study the performance of the special economic zone bordering Mae Sot District, Tak Province.  It was found that Thailand was located with strategic advantages on the economic corridor, connecting countries in the region: especially the east-west Northern Line, Southern Line, Sub-region, and Mekong River Basin. Thailand would become  a regional center. Therefore, the development of border economic bases, linking economic activities of countries in the surrounding region, was an important tool for spreading  prosperity and increasing the income and quality of life of the people . Special economic zones were established in 10border provinces, namely, Tak, Chiang Rai, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Sa Kaeo, Trat, Songkhla, Narathiwat and Kanchanaburi. They were the main economic gateways of the country: in driving the government to expedite the infrastructure development for the domestic and foreign investors from 2015 to the present.  It continued progressing.Tak’s Special Economic Zone was one of the important areas that investors were interested in, and had an outstanding potential for the economic gateway of the west of Thailand on the east-west economic corridor of the Mekong River Basin as a trade channel, and an important transportation system for Myanmar with an annual export value of 70 billion baht.  Also, in the future, it would be a trade channel to India, Bangladesh and Yunnan of China.