The best organized of the new type of association is the Nakhon Ratchasima Chamber of Commerce, established in 1980. By October 1991 it included about 900 members for the whole province; its leader- ship includes Hakka and Hainanese as well as Teochiu. Its leading members have united to set up several important projects. Two that have attracted a good deal of public attention centre on hotel manage- ment, and it is noteworthy that both involve Bangkok-based business- men as investors.32 The fact that the Chamber of Commerce is a nation- wide network has enabled local businessmen to form better con- nections with business circles in the capital, a matter of increasing importance.