Abstract:
The objectives of this research are (1) to study the business environment in 3 border areas of Chiang Rai province with customs offices: Mae Sai customs office, Chiang Saen customs office and Chiang Khong customs office; (2) to study the success factors of border trade businesses along Thailands northern border areas in Chiang Rai province, which has trade activities with Myanmar, Laos and southern China; and (3) to suggest the adaptation guidelines and development strategies for Chiang Rai border trade.
This research adopts a mixed-method approach. The main approach used in this study is qualitative method, which is supported by quantitative method. The collection of qualitative data involves 14 cases of in-depth interviews with the public sector, the private sector and entrepreneurs, in addition to another set of qualitative data obtained from 71 Chiang Rai border trade entrepreneurs. Questionnaires were used for data collection.
The research identifies 13 factors contributing to the success of border trade businesses along the Thai northern border areas in Chiang Rai. A set of factors are follow: Connectivity (C), Regulations (R), Board of Investments support (B), Operational efficiency (O), Roadmap training (R), Development of trade facilitation (D), Economic zone establishment (E), Reunion
(R), Tourism (T), Re-regulation of trade (R), Added valuation (A), Development of entrepreneurs (D), and Entrepreneurial adaptability (E). These factors, abbreviated as CRBORDERTRADE. The success model of Chiang Rai border trade development.