Sustainability Report 2017

3 Message from President Financial Technology, or FinTech, has transformed the business competition landscape with new kinds of entrepreneurship as well as product and service innovation to serve fast-changing consumer demands. Meanwhile, investors have become more aware and been influenced by environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations. To keep up with these trends, it is very challenging for The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to build capital market’s resiliency to support sustainable growth in the future. In 2017, SET focused its business development strategy by utilizing innovation and technology advancement to effectively respond to industry expansion. SET developed the LIVE digital fundraising system for startups, FundConnext mutual fund trading system and FinNet payment system. SET also shortened the settlement cycle to 2 working days (T+2) from 3 working days (T+3) to increase the competitive capabilities of the Thai capital market. To create shared value between business and society through SET staff, SET has promoted the culture of innovation and inspired its employees to add value to themselves, the organization and society through innovative thinking. SET has continued to promote good investment culture among Thai people through the Investnow project, while enhancing the listed company quality to build confidence among local and foreign investors. Significantly, the listed firm sustainability disclosure has gained greater global recognition. According to Corporate Knights’ study entitled “Measuring Sustainability Disclosure: Ranking the World’s Stock Exchanges 2017”, Thai listed firms have made an impressive progress on disclosing their sustainability information. In line with this, SET was the only Asian Kesara Manchusree President stock exchange that made the top 10 list out of 55 stock exchanges across the world, jumping from the 40 th place in 2013. In addition, 17 SET-listed companies were selected as constituents of Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), the 4 th highest number among Asian stock exchanges. Moreover, 35 Thai listed firms were selected as members in FTSE4Good Emerging Indexes, the highest number among all ASEAN capital markets. For the Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI), or the ESG stock list, 65 listed companies were selected, representing 52% of the market capitalization, up significantly from 51 firms in 2016. The above achievements have reinforced the Thai capital market’s positioning among global exchanges. Going forward, SET is strongly committed to promoting technological development and innovation to support the continued growth of business for fundraising and investment, locally and internationally, while working to enhance listed company quality in a sustainable manner. On behalf of SET, I would like to thank all stakeholders whose significant roles have supported our business expansion, alongside the Thai economic growth with stability over past decades. We have come a long way for capital market development and I am confident that SET will be recognized not only as the securities trading center, but also the national promoter of business opportunities for all sectors to optimize benefits from the capital market. This is indeed in line with our vision: “To Make the Capital Market ‘Work’ for Everyone” . (102-4), (102-32)