Thailand Focus 2008 opens today

The threeday event will include speeches from the government and related authorities and at least 473 oneonone and group meetings and conferences.

Early this month, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) said 83 local and 66 foreign fund managers, 66 listed Thai companies and 167 executives and officials from both the private and the public sector had already confirmed their intention to participate in the forum. It will be held in the Plaza Athenee Hotel on Wireless Road in Bangkok. CLSA Securities (Thailand) is a cohost.

Caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Suchat Tadatamrongvej will replace former prime minister Samak Sundaravej in delivering the keynote speech: "Pushing Thailand Forward: The Vision". Bank of Thailand Governor Tarisa Watanagase will give a speech on "Securing Thailand's Future with CapitalMarket Development".

Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Vijit Supinit will deliver a speech on "The Thai Capital Market: Past, Present and Future". Caretaker Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat will deliver a speech on "Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Development". Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretarygeneral of the UN Conference on Trade and Development and a former direc¬torgeneral of the World Trade Organisation, will give a speech on "Opportunities and Challenges for Thailand: The Global Prospective".

Listed companies participating in Thailand Focus 2008 account for about 70 per cent of the Thai stock market's overall capitalisation. They include PTT, which is the SET's largest listed company by marketcap size, Banpu, Total Access Communication, Siam Commercial Bank, Advanced Info Service, Siam Cement, Preuksa Real Estate, Bangkok Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, Thai Tap Water Supply and Charoen Pokphand Foods.