Abstract:
Since the establishment of the cooperative of all types in Thailand, the services of the cooperatives have all along gained acceptance among the cooperative members, hence the savings, working capital and investments in the cooperatives have been gradually increased. However, in fact, each of cooperatives has different economic status. That is, most of the cooperative members are still poor and in need of loans. Some cooperatives confront liquidity shortage, and thus have to borrow monies from others or from the financial institutions at higher cost; some have excessive liquidity; and some run the business at high risk despite poor managerial skills. These problems have currently prevailed due to a lack of central cooperative bank which performs as a financial hub for all cooperatives.The objective of this thesis is to propose the development of the cooperative system to set up a central financial institution and conform to the principle of self-help and mutual assistance. This newly-founded financial institution is generally called a "Central Cooperative Bank" which will play a key role in finance and liquidity management, support and promote all businesses of the cooperatives. According to the research method, the organization structure of the domestic financial institutions, theformat of foreign cooperative banks and other concerned organizations will be synthesized under the legal procedure. Besides, there will be development, privatization or establishment of an appropriate organization to be a financial center of the cooperatives the same as the central cooperative banks in foreign countries.The results of the research reveal that the cooperatives in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors are in different economic status. They receive unequal services from the financial institutions. As a result, all types of cooperatives require the central financial institution to provide financial services and liquidity management for them, and such financing agency will be set up and managed by the cooperatives. Therefore, the central cooperative bank should be established.The researcher would like to suggest four concepts: (1) amendment to the law and adjustment of the roles, authority and duties of Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to be a central financing agency for the cooperative sector, (2) set-up of central cooperative bank fund, (3) establishment of central Cooperatives Bank, and (4) promotion of Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to be a central financing agency for the cooperatives in agricultural sector. Meanwhile, the Federation of Savings and Credit Cooperative of Thailand will be a financial center for the cooperatives in non-agricultural sector. After consideration of readiness, management, personnel, location, cost and legal status of organization, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives has appropriate pattern regarding revision of roles and law amendment to further become the central cooperative ibank.