MAI to oversee 'incubation' of selected SMEs

MAI president Chanitr Charnchainarong said the aim of the matching fund was to attract both local and international investors to provide venture capital on a 50:50 basis, as investors and "incubators", to support SMEs and local entrepreneurs to expand and enhance their businesses.

"The fund will support SMEs in improving their business, creating competitiveness and earning revenue so that listing on the MAI will be their next step," Chanitr said.

He said that initially, the fund would invest about Bt300 million in SMEs in three industries: food, automotive and information technology. The investment in each enterprise will be between Bt20 million and Bt40 million, for a period of eight years.

"We believe there is potential to enhance business operations and create productivity in these three areas, enabling these SMEs to grasp opportunities and expand both in domestically and internationally," he said.

 Chanitr said the new matching fund expected to be able to invest in three SMEs and begin their "incubation" before the end of this year. It is expected that these SMEs will gain the ability to list on the MAI within three to five years.

  Meanwhile, the MAI is planning to provide information about its operations and the 50 companies that are currently listed on the exchange in a new e-book available at the bourse's website, www.mai.or.th. The e-book will provide information about the MAI's services, archive documents, annual reports and stock focus.

  "We expect that the new services will make investors more comfortable and inform the general public who want to learn about the MAI. Our next move will be to begin podcasting, or sending syndicated information out to members," Chanitr said.

 The MAI currently has 50 listed companies, with another 12 expected to list before the end of this year, he said.