The Study of Cross Border Trade of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Aranyaprathet District, Sakaeo Province

Abstract

           This study aimed to investigate (1) the buying and selling goods behavior of SMEs entrepreneurs in Rong Kluea area and SMEs importers-exporters, who have an import/export business presses Aranyaprathet border custom, (2) the market factors that the importer and the exporter attach importance to make a decision to purchase goods/raw material from source of purchase, (3) the supported requirements of the entrepreneurs by government, and (4) problems and obstacles in the operation. The data collection based on interview the relevant persons, observation, and surveys questionnaire with the sample of 400 entrepreneurs that consist of the import-export entrepreneurs cross the border checkpoint, entrepreneurs around Rong Kluea, and entrepreneurs who have the business related. The statistics used for analyzing data were descriptive statistics that include a percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Inferential statistics were used to analyze in form of t-test and Chi-square.

                   The study showed that the cash was the most popular payment method of entrepreneurs in Rong Kluea for buying and selling their own goods and Thai baht is an important currency. Cambodia is the most important source of goods production, followed by Thai and China respectively. The importing-exporting entrepreneurs cross the border checkpoint to buy goods directly from source of production, and to buy from intermediaries in the same amount of goods purchased from the origin. The three most important factors affecting decision to purchase goods/raw material of enterpreneurs are quality of products, reasonable prices with quality, and variety of goods. Furthermore, problems and barriers of entrepreneurs are inconvenience of customs procedures and operating costs. There were over 50 percent of entrepreneurs that need the governmental supports by introducing tax reduction policy and marketing.