The Readiness Preparation in Participating ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) of Ubon

Ratchathani Province
Written by: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior Administration
Translated by: Bureau of Foreign Languages
Ubon Ratchathani Province is situated at the easternmost border of Northeastern Region of
Thailand. It is the second largest province of the region and the fifth of the country. It is 630
kilometers from Bangkok and has an area of about 16,112 square meters or 10.6 million rai. The
province is divided into 25 districts with a total population of 1,801,242 people. GDP per capita is
59,965 baht per year. The value of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is 110.156 billion baht.
With the border line connecting to neighboring countries at a total length of 428 kilometers
such as the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Suvannakhet Province, Salavan Province and
Champasak Province) at a distance of 361 kilometers and the Kingdom of Cambodia (Preah Vihear
Province at a distance of 67 kilometers). The Senate Standing Committee on Interior
Administration led by Hon. Mr. Peera Manatas, Chief of Committee Advisors and the Sub-
Committee on Following Up and Inspecting the Performance of Regional Administration traveled to
study the concept of self-government and the preparation of readiness in participating ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) of Ubon Ratchanthani Province on December 20, 2012.
According to the overall briefing on Ubon Ratchathani Province by Mr. Wanchai Suthivorachai,
Governor of Ubon Ratchathani Province and the public agencies concerned, the Committee can
acknowledge the strength of Ubon Ratchathani Province, such as the center of connecting the trade,
tourism and investment with neighboring countries by having an international airport, the border
crossing which is the trading source of products to neighboring countries and the transportation of
roads, railroads and flying routes. It also has lots of water sources such as the Mekong River, Chi
River, Mun River and underground water sources and has natural tourist attractions and a variety of
cultures as well as lots of labour resources. In addition, it is a center of a regional administration in
provinces of the southern part of the Northeastern Region.
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior Administration has foreseen the benefits
which will occur from the integration of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) among ASEAN
countries. It will lead to mutual economic benefits and create a bargaining power for trading partners.
At the same time, there are issues which must be considered about the problems and obstacles. For
example, the production bases which mainly rely on labour and machinery such as the agricultural
sector, construction, textile industry may be affected by the relocation of the production bases to the
country having cheaper labour cost. Other problems include the problem of using English and
languages of neighboring countries as the medium in trading with one another, the problem of
understanding laws, regulations of each country and the free movement of labour leading to the
increase of foreign labour in Thailand and the security problems such as narcotics, epidemic and
transnational crimes.
The main purpose of the economic integration among ASEAN countries is to become a Single
Market and Production Base by enabling to freely move products, services, investment, labour and
capital within ASEAN by 2015. It will benefit Thailand in expanding the export and the opportunities
of trading and services in the advantage fields such as tourism, hotels and restaurants, medical
services, etc. To prepare the readiness of entering AEC, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior
Administration has made recommendations about the preparation of readiness for entering AEC of
Ubon Ratchathani Province by having the following interesting issues.
1. To develop the potential of the people for preparing the readiness to participate in the AEC
by increasing the efficiency of the village committee, sub-district headmen, village headmen and local
administrators.
2. To push the approval of a budget for supporting the implementation of the village
committees and enhance the role to local leaders such as sub-district headmen, village headmen
including the public administration without political interference.
3. To consider the guideline for collecting local tax.

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4. To develop labour skills for meeting the demand of a labour market and increase the
alternative to people by organizing training institutes in the specific field, especially the professions
receiving the certification from the AEC.
5. To determine a strategic plan for developing the province by developing personnel in
knowledge, languages and professional skills; to promote and conserve the history, culture and
tradition; to manage areas efficiently such as the development of a town plan for facilitating the
management according to the central policy or the Provincial Development Plan and to promote the
development of innovations, local products and tourist attractions, etc.
6. To prepare itself to cope with situations which will occur after entering AEC such as the
entry of foreign labour into the country and the prevention of drug problem.
7. To bring information, news, development of neighboring countries for analyzing the
situation which will lead people, the public sector and the private sector to get useful information in
coping with AEC.
8. To study the regional administration from the past, present to the future and bring the
Geographic Information System (GIS) to apply as a tool in developing the province. In addition,
people must be encouraged to take part in the regional administration for driving the Provincial
Development Plan.
9. To accelerate the survey and solve the problem of stateless persons living in the areas
because it may affect their fundamental rights and freedoms which they should receive from the
government including the right of employment.
10. To implement an urgent policy in 3 matters: 1) to build the international relations with
neighboring countries by organizing a pilot project for developing the relations in every aspect, 2) to
organize a strategic plan at the provincial level and the provincial cluster for handling foreign labour
by organizing a road map and 3) to register the professions (to issue certificate) to labour in every
career starting with careers which receive certification from the ASEAN Community.

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