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Mae Sot

Mae Sot
แม่สอด
City Municipality
Official seal of Mae Sot
Seal
Mae Sot is located in Thailand
Mae Sot
Mae Sot
Location of Mae Sot within Thailand
Coordinates: 16°42′47″N 98°34′29″E / 16.71306°N 98.57472°E / 16.71306; 98.57472Coordinates: 16°42′47″N 98°34′29″E / 16.71306°N 98.57472°E / 16.71306; 98.57472
Country Thailand
Province Tak Province
District Mae Sot District
Government
 • Type City municipality
Area
 • Total 27.2 km2 (10.5 sq mi)
Population
 • Total 52,350
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
Website http://www.nakhonmaesotcity.go.th

Mae Sot (Thai: แม่สอด, pronounced [mɛ̂ː sɔ̀ːt]; Burmese: မဲဆောက်, [mɛ́ sʰaʊʔ]; Shan: ႄႈသၢႆ, [ɛ sʰaaj]) is a city in western Thailand that shares a border with Burma to the west. It is notable as a trade hub and for its substantial population of Burmese migrants and refugees. The city is part of Tak Province, 87 km from the city of Tak and 509 km from Bangkok. It is home to the district headquarters of Mae Sot District, and is the main gateway between Thailand and Burma. As a result, it has gained notoriety for its trade in gems and teak, as well as black market services such as people trafficking and drugs.

Mae Sot is 492 km northwest of Bangkok.

In 1937 Mae Sot was a local administration, administered by a headman, usually called village headman or village chief (ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน phu yai ban), Its population at the time was approximately 12,000 people. On 30 September 1939 Mae Sot was established as a municipality and governed 27 villages. It was upgraded to a city municipality in 2010.

Neighboring districts are Mae Pa tambon administrative organization (TAO) in the north; Mae Tao (TAO) to the south; Mae Pa and Phra That Pha Daeng (TAO) to the east; and Tha Sai Luat Sub-district Municipality to the west.

Trade with Burma constitutes the largest portion of Mae Sot's economy. It has an established market for commodities such as wholesale gems and teak. Most of the town's service industries are supported by Burmese migrants who work in sweat-shops and factories throughout the region. The town also suffers from a black market in illegal smuggling, people trafficking, and narcotics. The Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge is the primary gateway for trade with Burma. The border region, several kilometres west from central Mae Sot, includes the Rim Moei Market that deals in imported goods and woodwork.


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