Foreign husbands lift Buriram economy

[Admin]

I don't remember if we discussed about this article but anyway I found it and thought it can be interesting to read. hehe..

BURI RAM WOMEN

Foreign husbands lift economy
SURACHAI PIRAGSA
 

BURI RAM : Foreigners married to local women in Buri Ram generate a capital inflow to the country of 230 million baht a year, according to a recent survey.

The survey discovered there were more than 960 local women married to foreigners in 21 of 24 districts in Buri Ram, and these mixed marriages have boosted finances in the province.

Provincial statistics expert Saijit Klutanont said that according to her research, Khu Muang district had the highest number of mixed marriages with 163 couples.

Up to 66% of the 967 couples surveyed had moved abroad with their husbands. The rest had stayed in Thailand.

Most of the foreign husbands were British, followed by Germans, French and Italians. They were aged between 51 and 60 and had incomes ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 baht a month.

Ms Saijit said a better life and financial security were the main reasons why many northeastern women said "I do" to farang men.

On average, Thai women who stayed with their farang husbands overseas sent 10,000 to 20,000 baht each month to their families, according to the research.

That adds up to over 230 million baht coming into the local economy a year.

Ms Saijit said there were no signs of a decrease in the number of Thai women who chose foreign men as husbands.

But to prevent their dream marriages turning sour, she suggested that women thinking of marrying a foreigner do a check on the backgrounds of their husband-to-be and their health records.