Thailand’s Economic & Financial Policy Planning Organizations To Provide Information To Foreign Economists And Analysts At “Thailand Focus 2005- Strategists” June 27

Chairman of the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (FeTCO), Mr. Kongkiat Opaswongkarn, announced that FeTCO, in conjunction with the Foreign Brokers Association, has invited prominent economists, strategists, and regional analysts to participate in Thailand Focus 2005- Strategists. This special event for strategists will be a great opportunity for them to meet directly with Thailand’s economic and financial policy planners. The event will take place on June 27, 2005. The participants will also have an opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister.

Thailand Focus 2005- Strategists will have two important discussion sessions. The morning session, “Financial Policies and the Readiness of Thailand Mega-projects Investment”, will be held at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel. Senior executives from the public sector will be participating in this session. The senior public sector participants will include Dr. Chaiyawat Wibulswasdi, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Uttama Savanayana, Vice Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Suparat Kawatkul, Permanent Secretary of Finance, Dr. Olarn Chaipravat, Honorary Advisor, Fiscal Policy Research Institute, Dr. Somchai Sujjapongse, Deputy Director-General, Fiscal Policy Office, Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Deputy Secretary General, National Economic and Social Development Board, Dr. Areepong Bhoocha-oom, Deputy Director-General, Office of State Enterprises and Government Securities, and Ms. Pannee Sathavarodom, Director-General, Public Debt Management Office.

In the afternoon, there’ll be the discussion on the “Monetary Policies and Financial Institutions’ Standings” at the Bank of Thailand (BOT). The BOT’s senior executives-- Dr. Bandid Nijathaworn and Dr. Tarisa Watanagase-- will be participating in the session at the BOT’s Bangkhunprom Palace.

“The key afternoon session of Thailand Focus 2005- Strategists will be held at the Government House. The participants will have an opportunity to meet H.E. Prime Minister Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra and his team including Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Viset Choopiban, Minister of Energy, and Dr. Ampon Kittiampon, Secretary-General, National Economic and Social Development Board,” FeTCO’s Chairman said.

President of the Foreign Brokers Association, Mr. Marco Sucharitkul, said that twelve leading foreign brokerage houses in the region showed great interest in the event and accepted the invitation. These companies have approximately 800 clients who are fund managers investing in the Asia-Pacific region with as high as USD1.0 trillion worth of funds under their management. These fund managers receive research reports from the participating brokerage houses monthly. For that reason the participation of these brokerage houses will significantly aid them in producing comprehensive and accurate reports about the Thai economy for their client fund managers.

Thailand Focus 2005- Strategists will have prominent foreign economists, strategists, and analysts from 12 brokerage houses. The brokerage houses include ABN AMRO, Bear Stearns, Citigroup-Solomon Smith Barney, CLSA Securities, Credit Suisse First Boston Securities, DBS Bank Ltd., Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Securities, Macquarie Securities, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and UBS Securities. Furthermore, there will also be representatives from FeTCO, the directors of the Securities Analysts Association, who are securities analysts for nine local securities companies, and representatives from the Foreign Brokers Association participating in the event.