ChiangRai Province

1.      General Information

Chiang Rai province is located about 785 km north of Bangkok and it is the northernmost part of Thailand. It borders Myanmar and Laos People Democratic Republic (PDR). This area is known as the “Golden Triangle” because in ancient times, drug trafficking and cannabis production was prevalent here. Now it is merely relegated to a museum. Golden Triangle area is now becoming a major tourist center of Chiang Rai.  The city is gradually becoming a gateway to China, Myanmar, Laos PDR, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It is collectively called The Greater Maekong Sub-region (GMS). 

The city of Chiang Rai is about 740 years old. If one were to include the ancient city of Chiang Saen, it would have a combined history totaling over 2000 years old. At present, the province is divided into 16 districts, 2 sub-districts, 124 tambons (sub-districts), 1,634 villages, 24 municipalities, 1 provincial administrative affairs, 120 tambon administrative affairs, 1 tambon council, 33 Provincial Government Administrative Centers, 47 units of state government and local government.

There are 4 tambons in Chiang Rai municipalities, which are Tambon Wiang, Tambon Ropwiang, Tambon Sansai, and Tambon Rimkok.

The province has 4 senators and 8 representatives in parliament. 73.73% of eligible voters turned out for the January 6, 2001 elections with 14.52% being invalid votes and on January 29, 2001, 65.81 % of eligible voters showed up with 15% of invalid ballot cards.

The population of Chiang Rai is 1,260,766 people, consisting of 669,453 men and 631,313 women.  Along with its scenic landscapes and different ethnic minorities and diverse culture, plus over 221,196 tribal people of its population, this province is a charming and interesting place to explore.

Currently, Chiang Rai has 2,575 educational institutions and 14,010 teachers and 318,645 students. The province consists of 787 formal educational institutions with 11,104 teachers and 244,317 students, while the rest is made up of 1,728 non-formal education institutions with 2,906 teachers and 74,238 students. Overall the city has the ratio of 23 students per 1 teacher.  Besides, there are 6 vocational schools and 3 higher education institutions in Chiang Rai.

94.33% in Chiang Rai are Buddhists, Christians 5.02%, Muslims 0.77% and 0.34% of other religious belief.

Chiang Rai has 21 hospitals with 2,070 beds.  There are both public and private hospitals. 18 public hospitals with 1,549 beds and 3 private hospitals with 521 beds are available right now. Also, the city has 145 medical doctors, 799 professional nurses and 520 technical nurses.

2.      Economy.

The following table shows how Chiang Rai uses its area in 1999:

1,772,799 rai or 76.72% of the area is held by agriculturists, 1,530,483 rai is completely owner-managed and the rest of the land of 192,316 rai is mortgaged.    

In 1998, the population of Chiang Rai had a per capita income of 29,764 baht and the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP) were 33,078 million baht. The major source of income is based on agriculture at 7,879 million baht per year or an average of 23.82% in the legitimate commerce of Chiang Rai. Secondly, provincial income comes from the retail and the wholesale trade at 15.60% or 6,481 million baht. The third one is from service section at 16% or 5,891 million baht.

Chiang Rai had a large sum of 343,362.63 million baht bank account deposited in 1999 and of which 343,785 million baht in 2000, showing an increase of 0.12%.  The total bank loan in the same year was 243,289.52 million baht but decreased by 7.33% or 226,657.95 million baht.

Deposit and Loan rate for commercial banks at Chiang Rai:

The table shows a decrease of Loan/Deposit at a good rate, thus showing a steady improvement of the province’s economy.

 Total Trade Value from the Border points in year 2000:

Wat Phrathat Doi Tung

Chiang Rai is located along the border of Myanmar and Laos PDR, therefore border checkpoints exist along the following areas:

1.       Permanent Checkpoint

1.1              Under the agreement between Myanmar and Thailand, there is one permanent checkpoint at Mae Sai District.

1.2              Under the agreement between Laos PDR and Thailand, there are 2 checkpoints which are:

·               The checkpoint at Chiang Khong District.

·               The checkpoint at Chiang Saen District.

2.       Exempt crossing point

The exempt crossing point is a point that already is closed but reopens occasionally. 

The opening of the borderpoint depends on the agreement between Myanmar and Thailand, and also between Laos PDR and Thailand.

There are 4 exempt crossing points between Myanmar and Thailand, which are:

2.1              At Bann Pang Ha, Mae Sai District

2.2              At Bann Kho Sai, Mae Sai District

2.3              At Bann Sai Lom Joy, Mae Sai District.

2.4              At Bann Sob Luank, Chiang Saen District

There are 4 exempt crossing points between Laos PDR and Thailand, which are:

2.5              At Bann Jam Pong, Wieng Kan District

2.6              At Bann Suan Dok, Chiang Saen District

2.7              At Bann Rom Pothong, Teung District

2.8              At Bann Sob Luank, Chiang Saen District

Commercial plantation and other resources.

1.  In-season rice

An area of growing this rice in 2001 to 2002 was around 1,081,530 rai with total yield of 502,787 tons or 465 kg/rai.  Its price for grade A and B for one volume* was 5,625 baht and 5,350 baht respectively.

*1 volume = 2000 litres.

2. Out-season rice

In 2001, 54,533 rai of growing area produced of 36,810 tons or 675 kg/rai. An average price of one volume was 3,333 baht.

3. Maize

There were 297,724 rai to grow maize in 2001. 190,495 tons or 640 kg/rai on an average of 3.75-3.90 baht / kg was produced.

4. Soybean

There were 29,009 rai for growing soybean in 2001. 6,202 tons or 214 kg/rai. was produced.

King  Meng  Rai  the  Great  Monument

5. Ginger

There were an area of about 19,881 rai  was available for ginger. 35,303 tons at price of 10.61 baht/kg was produced.

6. Longan

37,937 rai of longan plantation can provide 45,000 tons or 600 kg/ rai.  The price of longan last year for grade A and B were 30 baht/kg.

Animals for commercial slaughter were poultry and swine.  There were approximately 200,000 of these animals with a price of 33-35 baht each.  The province provides almost 7,000,000 chickens and around 60,000 oxen were raised by agriculturists.  There is cooperation among people in the city gather funds from local people. Cooperatives and other group exist to make this viable for easy distribution.  There are 85 cooperatives with 157,364 members and 50 agricultural cooperatives with 129,908 members. The rest of 35cooperatives are outside agricultural group with 27,942 members.

Along with cooperatives, the province still has 869 occupational groups, with 25,563 memberships, 191saving funds groups of 25,937 members helping each other to improve the communal savings. 

Also, there are 35 Tambon Marketing Demonstration Centers.  In addition, 13 granaries and 146 rice banks have been already set up in the city.  Moreover, there is Fishery Center in Phan District that provides 17 tons per day of fish that could be sold in Chiang Rai and its vicinity.

There are many tourist attractions in the province: 3 National parks, 9 forest parks, 1 arboretum and 31forestry area. In addition, there is The Emerald Temple discovered in 1368.  Tourists enjoy rafting along Kok River and visit Phu Chee Fah, Mae Slong Community, Doi Tung Palace, Doi Tung Temple and hot springs.   They are able to visit other countries along the border such as Myanmar, Laos PDR, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Tourism Data.

Resource: Tourism Authority of Thailand in Chiang Rai, Region 2

3.      Strategy and objectives of Economic Quadrangle development

This province is the northernmost in the land with neighboring countries such as Yunnan Province of southern China.  It is 397 km from Chiang Rung of China and 493 km from Myanmar, 344 km from Laos PDR and it is situated along the banks of Mae Kong River.

In addition, the city has a variety of communication routes, stretching up to its neighboring countries by land, river and air.  The weather is cool. The watershed is rich. The places of attraction and recreational facilities are numerous. The agriculture and its unique cultural identity make Chiang Rai as no other place on earth to invest and reap immense profit.

Chiang Rai has set up strategies and objectives for development in three ways:

1.      To become a Gateway or a center of communication, trading and education amongst

 China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos PDR.  For trade and commerce many roads will be built in cooperation with these neighboring countries.  Mae Kong River offers the easy shipping route for trade between Thailand and China.  The province has an international airport to facilitate traffic from overseas.

Chiang Rai focuses on economic projects in border regions such as Mae Sai and far away places such as Kunming. Sea going vessels can navigate the waters along the ports that are under construction at Chiang Saen and Chiang Kong.  A four-lane freeway and expanded main roads from Bangkok to Chiang Rai and to Luangnamtha (Laos PDR) are under development.

Construction of a railroad from Denchai District to Chiang Rai is underway. The city of Chiang Rai strongly supports and promotes border commercial trade through Mae Sai, Chiang Saen, and Chiang Kong Customs.  Trade promotion and cooperation among Chiang Rai, Myanmar, Laos PDR and China called  “Joint Economic Quadrangle Chambers Committee” (JEQC) has been established.

Chiang Rai supports higher education to its people. The city boasts of a state of the art Mae Fah Luang University, a Technology Rachamonkon Institute, Chiang Rai College, Vocational educational school, Handicraft Artisan Development Center and Arts Artisan College.

2.       To promote tourism along the northern part of Mae Kong River Groups, many attractions

will be developed to preserve natural, cultural and historical way of the indigenous people.

Other tourist attractions include National Parks, Forest Parks, Arboretum, Khok River rafting.  There are many places such as Phu Chee Fah, Doi Tung Palace and Doi Tung Temple for a visit and for rich cultural experience.  Travel across neighboring countries makes this province an attractive place to rest and relax.  Tourist Guide Center and Souvenir Centers of local products are also available for momento-hunters.

        The province positions itself as the leader to export its products. To help in this process, agricultural and industrial warehouses will be available. It also supports marketing information for agriculturists to harvest fruits for commercial exploitation.  The province supports Small and Medium Entrepreneur (SME). 

      Excellent facility exists for export oriented vessels to navigate its waters.  A vast talent pool of technicians and other experts in their field are available. A “know-how” to do export business is available as near as one’s phone. 

      Drug smuggling and associated problems are being eradicated at a rapid pace by the province. However, complete success in this effort will not be possible without the cooperation of the private and the public sectors together.

“ THE NORTHERNMOST PART OF THAILAND”

“ THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF LANNA”

“ GATEWAY TO ECONOMIC QUADRANGLE”

Translated by Ms. Nilubol Saenganan,

School of Liberal Arts

Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai

333 T. Thasud, A. Muang, Chiang Rai

Tel. (053) 916107