The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has continued to enhance ‘social investment’ concept among business sector and investors, encouraging them to focus on building financial returns while creating goodness for society, as well as propelling social enterprise to prosper in Thailand.
To materialize the social investment concept, SET together with strategic partners, has continuously kept investors and business sector members well informed via lectures, special talks, seminars and workshops by prominent Thai and foreign connoisseurs throughout this year.
SET Chairman Sathit Limpongpan said “SET values the social investment as it is a two-fold benefit, giving investment returns plus benefits to society and environment efficiently and sustainably. This year, SET is strongly committed to providing social investment information for all market participants, by injecting the importance and type of investments with social responsibility for all stakeholders including listed companies, asset management firms, institutional and retail investors. The investment could be in the form of investing in social enterprise (SE), or within the business operating with social responsibility, or any other affiliates with ultimate aim to enhance society for sustainable growth.”
“To-date many organizations have added the practice of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) into all aspects of business procedure. To speed up momentum, SET has also supported the Thai capital market to increasingly give importance on social valuation at two levels. The first level is enhancing listed companies to be part of Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), and another level is emphasizing realization of listed companies in granting funds for SEs, assessing the funds utilization by the results in creating benefits to society on top of company profits. SEs have been set up and operating successfully in Europe, England and Asia, for many decades. With synergy from the private sector, government and high net worth philanthropists, SET is determined to be a driving force behind the success in Thailand. This could come true in several ways such as investing in SE or venture capital, and setting up an SE as a subsidiary. It is a positive sign that there are currently asset management firms setting up social funds focusing on investing social enterprises,” Sathit added.
To stimulate the social investment, SET has recently joined hands with partners to hold a forum called “New Investment Opportunities for Sustainable Growth” and “Investing for Sustainability: Pursuing Impact & Profit in Globally Diversified Portfolios” by domestic and international experts in building positive impact to society via investment, sharing experiences in setting up SEs and social funds. More trainings and seminars will be held throughout the year to enlighten understanding on social investment.
