Special Economic Zone plan for Trat province raises concerns of pollution, loss of coastal livelihoods
In 2015, the Government of Thailand launched a plan that designates 10 border provinces as “Special Economic Zones (SEZs)”. Trat, situated adjacent to Cambodia, is one of the 10. Specifically, Mairut together with Khlong Yai and Hat Lek sub-districts have been earmarked as the eastern SEZ.
Trat is more than just a border town of neighboring Cambodia. With 165 km of coastline along the Gulf of Thailand, and a vast expanse of mangrove forests, fisheries is one of its residents’ most important occupations.
Phurinat Chotiwan
