Cross-Border Regional Development Dynamics in the Mekong Region: A Comparative Study of Special Border Economic Zones Between Thailand and Bordering Countries

With the advent of ASEAN integration, cross-border trade areas are gradually emerging as peripheral growth regions. Thailand locates on mainland of greater Mekong sub-region (GMS) possesses promising geo-economic and connectivity with bordering countries through the realization of the GMS Economic Corridors. In order to harness this potential, Thailand has recently transformed existing interdependent borderlands and asymmetric relations towards integrated development of special border economic zones across the country. It is also planned to foster supply chain and production linkages with counterpart border economic zones in neighboring countries. Thus, overall national border economic zone development strategies in Thailand have been proposed. Also, a number of development strategies for specific cross-border economic zones in Thailand for promoting integrated borderlands development and cross-border regional development with counterpart bordering districts of Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar have subsequently been recommended. This book is useful for regional development planners, policy makers and practitioners, who are interested in border studies and borderlands development.

Dr.Choen Krainara has been working as Senior Policy and Plan Analyst at Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, a central planning agency of Thailand. Dr.Jayant Kumar Routray is Professor of Regional and Rural Development Planning at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand.