Model of Public and Private Cooperation in Finding Ways to Develop the Thai-Myanmar Border Trading Market (Dan Singkhon) in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province

Abstract

The study on model of public and private cooperation in finding ways to develop the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon) in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province was a qualitative research aiming to: 1) study the current conditions of the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon), 2) study and synthesize the model of public and private cooperation in finding ways to develop the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon) in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, and 3) propose a model of public and private cooperation in finding ways to develop the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon) in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. The data were collected by means of document analysis, observation, individual interview, and group interview with key informants and beanalyzed by using content analysis and synthesis, then, summarized into narrative and descriptive forms according to the research objectives. The research results 1) According to the study of the current conditions of the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon), it was found that the number of tourists visiting and buying products sold in the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon) were lower than before even on Saturday morning with a flea market because there were no new products and activities able to attract tourists. Wild orchids from the Union of Myanmar, which used to be a popular product, were banned from being sold. The "Bae Ka Din" or “on the ground” market was gone. The buildings had been constructed for selling the products instead. Groups or organizations related to Thai-Myanmar trade development tended to focus more on international trade than trade in the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon) due to restrictions on the location of Dan Singkhon market, which was on the lands under Agricultural Land Reform Office and the Department of Forestry which were difficult to develop because of obstruction in the law on land use objectives. There was also an international security issue, causing the governing agencies to control the area instead of the sub-district administrative organization. 2) From the study and synthesis of the model of public and private cooperation in finding ways to develop the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon), it was found that the public and the private sectors cooperate in the management of the market. The Thai-Myanmar border (Dan Singkhon) in the form of a leader-follower relationship, with public agencies leading on the policy setting, planning, structuring, and determining the cooperation framework, whereas the private sector followed in practice. Most of them were about the development of logistics and the infrastructure which facilitated the trade and the private sector cooperated in the investment and selling products. 3) The proper model of public and private cooperation in finding ways to develop the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon) was that the government should still be a leader and the people should be a follower, by establishing an organization or group with commitees consisting of public and private sectors involved in the trade of goods to specifically manage the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon). And, there should be a cooperation in the form of 4C's (Cooperation, Collaboration, Coordination, and Communication) for developing the Thai-Myanmar border trading market (Dan Singkhon) to become a tourist destination by creating attractions, amenities, activities (for tourists to participate), accessibility, accommodations, and ancillary services.