Annual Report 2017

38 Annual Report 2017 2.3 Supporting the work of intermediaries and ensuring institutional investors’ access to the Thai capital market In order to expand the opportunities for foreign investors to access the Thai capital market, SET adjusted the trading criteria relating toDirectMarket Access (DMA) to be in line with modern trading trends and international standards. These included the guidelines of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP); IOSCO’s Principles for Direct Electronic Access to Markets; and the trading criteria of the leading global stock markets. At the same time, SET also continued to promote program trading by domestic and foreign institutional investors in order to be in line with current trends of such electronic trading. SET realizes the importance of intermediaries as a key mechanism that keeps investors connected and has continuously worked to enhance the knowledge of intermediaries’ employees. In 2017, SET in cooperation with the Association of Thai Securities Companies (ASCO) and the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC) developed training courses tailored specifically to meet the needs and roles of the intermediaries’ employees to raise the quality of services and investment advice provided to investors. The courses were designed for investment consultants, investment analysts, securities operation officers, and human resource executives, such as “The IC Leader @ Securities Companies and Asset Management Companies,” “Equity Product Specialist,” “The TFEX Specialist,” and the “Junior Investment Consultant,” conducted all year round, attended by 3,544 staff of intermediaries. Investment Consultants CISA test candidates Intermediance professional education Professional Standard Development for investment consultants Cultivating new ganeration of capital market professionals (both intermidiaries and listed firms) attended by 3,544 participants in 2017. “The IC Leader@securities companies and asset management companies” project “Equity Product Specialist” project “The TFEX Specialist” project “Junior Investment Consultant” project “Young Corporate Financial Officer (YFO)” project “New Breed @ U-Net” project 79,285 persons 2,637 persons One of SET’s major role is to develop and enhance professional standards of investment consultants. In 2017, the “Investment Consultant” exam course was attended by 79,285 participants, and 2,637 persons took all 3 levels of the CISA exam. In addition, SET has kept related parties well-informed about the changing structure of the Investment Consultant license according to the SEC’s new regulations and SET’s new Investment Consultant exam courses to be used from January 1, 2018. SET organized meetings and communicated via various channels, while overseeing the training courses for license renewal. With 132 training courses for license renewal approved, and 17 training institutions (conducted 19 times) randomly checked to ensure quality standard. SET has also collaborated with related professional associations and a network of 29 universities to encourage students to choose a career in the capital market, to work either with intermediary institutions or listed firms through such projects as “Young Corporate Financial Officer (YFO)” and “New Breed @ U-Net.” These projects not only help develop the skills and experience of young people, but also attract more personnel to work in the capital market.