Bangkok: AIMC, under the leadership of President Poj Harinsut, has announced an ambitious three-year strategy aimed at significantly expanding Thailand's investor base from 3 million to 6 million people over the next five years. The plan also includes a proposal to increase tax incentives for the Thailand Individual Savings Account (TISA) to 1 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Poj Harinsut revealed details of the plan, emphasizing the role of institutional investors as foundational elements of the Thai capital market. The strategy, set for the 2026-2028 period, seeks to enhance national savings, broaden investment channels, and incorporate diverse workforce segments, including freelancers and gig economy workers. The initiative also aims to promote provident funds and develop internationally compliant investment products.
Currently, only 15% of Thailand's 40 million workforce are investors, highlighting substantial growth potential. Thailand's investment fund holdings are around 60% of its portfolio, lagging behind Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States, where this figure is between 80-100%. The disparity is further accentuated by the 16-17 trillion baht in bank deposits compared to the 10 trillion baht in investment funds, illustrating untapped opportunities to channel savings into potentially lucrative capital market ventures.
The plan targets three primary demographic groups: the younger generation through innovative products like the Thai Baht-denominated Crypto ETF, the aging Silver Economy demographic, and expatriates residing in Thailand. These initiatives are designed to encourage continuous investment rather than mere savings and to make the Thai market more attractive to foreign investors.
Next week, AIMC will engage with capital market agencies to discuss these measures before presenting them to the government. The key proposals include increasing TISA's tax benefit limit from 800,000 baht to 1,000,000 baht and easing foreign investment restrictions to attract more international investors to the Thai capital market.
Poj Harinsut also outlined potential impacts of ongoing Middle East conflicts on oil prices, which could soar to $147 per barrel under certain scenarios, potentially triggering hyperinflation and recession. Nonetheless, he maintained that the Thai stock market's downside risks are limited, with the SET index expected to hover between 1,475 and 1,500 points under normal conditions. Should the government implement effective economic stimulus measures, the index could potentially reach 1,600 points.