As a border province in northern Thailand, Chiang Rai has no large mineral resources and no profound historical heritage. Compared with Chiang Mai in the north, Chiang Rai can be said to be a remote country.
Although the Tung Wah Association has intentionally increased investment in Chiang Rai in recent years, there is still a huge gap in economic development compared with Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Rayong and other places.
In order to further accelerate the development of Chiang Rai and expand the influence of Tung Wah Club in the northern Thai market, Li Jianhui once again invested heavily in Chiang Rai.
On the morning of the second day after returning to Chiang Rai city from Mae Salong Village, Li Jianhui, Guan Jiahui and many senior officials from the Xin Jian Department held talks with many senior government officials from Chiang Rai Province and Chiang Rai City.
The governor of Chiang Mai, Sisuphon, also has a very close relationship with the Tung Hwa Association. It can be said that this position cannot be achieved without the support of the Tung Hwa Association.
Thinking back a few years ago, the urban population of Chiang Mai was only about 100,000. Due to the entry of multiple industries and a large amount of funds from the Tung Wah Association, the urban population is now close to 300,000.
And as a small city, Chiang Rai has its own basketball stadium and sports center, as well as ABA and PFLA clubs, thanks to the layout and care of the Tung Wah Association.
This time, Li Jianhui once again brought him major projects, including the Wheelock Plaza with an investment of 3 billion Hong Kong dollars, the Donghua Clothing Trade City with an investment of 300 million Hong Kong dollars, and the establishment of a fruit and vegetable wholesale market with an investment of 100 million Hong Kong dollars.
At the same time, Xinjian Vegetable Company cooperates with Chiang Rai Province to develop a vegetable planting base in Chiang Khong County.
Xinhui Infrastructure Investment Company is a joint venture with the Chiang Rai Municipal Government to build and operate Chiang Rai International Airport.
In addition, Xinhui Infrastructure Investment Company has also signed an investment intention agreement for the expressway from Chiang Rai city to Chiang Mai city. It is expected that in the near future, Chiang Rai will not only have an airport and railways, but also a highway, which will greatly facilitate the citizens of Chiang Rai.
travel, and also plays a huge role in promoting the economic development of Chiang Rai.
Li Jianhui's focus on developing Chiang Rai is not just for the Thai market, but also for the markets of neighboring countries, and even the northern market not far away.
The border wholesale trade center is Li Jianhui's positioning for Chiang Rai. This is why he invested in the establishment of Donghua Clothing Trade City and Wheelock Plaza here. Aodong Trading Group and Debao Trading Company will also follow.
The former sells daily necessities, while the latter sells industrial machinery and energy, and can even matchmaking for weapons products.
Sisuphon doesn't care what plans Li Jianhui and Donghua Club have, as long as Donghua Club does not violate Thai laws in Chiang Rai Province, then the two parties will be close collaborators.
If he wants to go further, he needs public support and achievements, and the main reason for this is rapid economic development, which means he must rely on the support of the Tung Wah Association.
Moreover, Sisuphon's family has lived in Chiang Rai for several generations. He also hopes that Chiang Rai's economy will prosper and develop, and he hopes that Chiang Rai can become a major city in Thailand and even Southeast Asia.
This dream was once out of reach, but now that Donghua Club has invested heavily in Chiang Rai, he sees hope. He has great confidence that Chiang Rai will become one of the four largest cities in Thailand. In the future, Chiang Rai will be second only to
Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Rayong.
In order to realize this dream as soon as possible, Sisuphon had a separate meeting with Li Jianhui after the reporters left.
"Mr. Li, you are also aware of some of our situation in Chiang Rai. We do not have any large-scale mineral resources or large-scale manufacturing enterprises.
The reason why Chiang Rai has developed so fast and the population has increased so much in recent years is mainly due to infrastructure investment and service industries.
But this aspect cannot guarantee the long-term stable and rapid development of Chiang Rai. I sincerely hope that the manufacturing industry under Mr. Li’s and even Tung Wah Hui’s companies can come to Chiang Rai for development.”
“Due to its geographical location and history, Chiang Rai’s development does have many shortcomings. I also understand Mr. Xisipeng’s sentiments very well.
But in my opinion, Chiang Rai is not suitable for development into an industrial city, and Chiang Rai does not have such conditions.
Let me tell you the truth, at present, our Donghua Association has no plans to invest in large-scale production bases in Chiang Rai.
In my plan, Chiang Rai is more suitable as a border trade center, mainly developing trade industry.
Due to the special geographical environment of Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai Province also mainly develops vegetable and fruit cultivation. This is also my original intention of investing in the establishment of a vegetable and fruit wholesale market.
On the other hand, Chiang Rai is also suitable for the development of tourism due to its unique geographical environment.
Of course, if you have enough connections and can persuade the upper-level governments, you can also develop the gaming industry in certain areas. As a border government, this is also a major advantage. As time goes by, you will definitely be able to attract wealthy people from neighboring countries and regions to play in the future.
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Having said that, Li Jianhui still promised that Xinjian Bank would provide low-interest financing loans to Chiang Rai enterprises to support Chiang Rai enterprises in becoming bigger and stronger.
At the same time, Lane Crawford, Berjaya Retail, Cosway and Watsons will increase cooperation with daily necessities companies in Chiang Rai.
Sisuphon was a little disappointed with this. He could only lament that Chiang Rai was not as good as Rayong, and also lamented the current environment on the southeastern peninsula.
If neighboring Myanmar and Laos also belong to ASEAN, perhaps Chiang Rai's planning and positioning in the Tung Wah Association will be completely different.
After all, that ancient country in the north is not far from Chiang Rai, but is separated by Laos or Myanmar. With the financial resources of the Donghua Association, it is fully capable of building the railway from Chiang Mai.
It’s a pity that Chiang Rai does not have such a good environment. Being able to reach Chiang Rai from the northern end of the Star-Malaysian-Thailand Rapid Railway has been specially taken care of by Donghua Society. It is undoubtedly a wishful dream to continue going north and connect to that ancient country.
Disappointed, Sisuphon still spoke out: "Thank you Mr. Li for your guidance and support for our subsequent development in Chiang Rai. I also hope that the companies under the Xinjian Department and Tung Hwa Hui will continue to increase investment in Chiang Rai. I
I also believe that Chiang Rai and enterprises can achieve mutual benefit, win-win and common development."
“Chiang Rai is one of the key development markets for industries under our Dong Hua Economic Cooperation Association, and we are also willing to develop together with the economy of Chiang Rai Province.
Yesterday's trip to Mae Salong Village made me quite emotional. We also hope that Chiang Rai can have a fair, inclusive and respectful social environment. The history of the Nanyang Chinese has been saved. While they are developing themselves, they are also contributing to the local economic and social development.
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But many times, they do not receive corresponding respect, fair treatment, and the rights they deserve.
Fortunately, over the past few years, various governments in Nanyang have made great improvements. Chinese and ethnic Chinese have gradually gained their due status and rights locally, and the Chinese in Nanyang have regained their confidence in living and developing in Nanyang."
During the confidential talks, Li Jianhui also communicated with Sisuphon about the general election next year, and Xinjian Education Group to establish a private Chinese (Mandarin) school in Chiang Rai that integrates primary and secondary schools.
This will also be the first Chinese teaching school planned to be established by the Xin Jian Department in Thailand. When the time is right in the future, Li Jianhui will also establish Chinese schools in Chiang Mai and Rayong.
As for Chiang Mai, which was originally the easiest place, Li Jianhui has not mentioned it yet in order to avoid affecting Yaowarat’s candidacy in the following year.
Li Jianhui actually has a huge plan in his heart. It is even a complete fantasy at present, but he is working hard towards this plan.
Although it is unlikely to succeed in a few years, more than 20 years, or even more than 20 years, in a few decades, it may be possible.