Bangkok--Jan 25--AFET
The Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand (AFET) reveals its 2005 marketing strategy to tap new investors, AFET plans to introduce the market through public media i.e. T.V. and radio , creating trading simulation competition for university students,and,in cooperation with brokers,it plans to promote investment activities throughout the country. AFET's top five brokers for 2004 are AGE, AGR, UYF, DSF, and GAT.
Napaporn Kurupasutachai, President of AFET ,said the marketing plan in 2005 will focus on joining activities with brokers and Department of Internal Trade,Ministry of Commerce as well as other relates organizations. AFET will also concentrate on widening its market data distribution through mass media.AFET aims to achieve greater recognition and an increase trading volume. Napaporn said AFET's performance in 2004 is satisfactory. The total trading volume reached 35,039 contracts for the year valued at 4,968.47 million bath.Of all contracts,17,800 were Natural Rubber Ribbed Smoked Sheets No.3(started trading on 28th May 2004) amounted to 3,276.74 million Baht while the remaining 17,239 contracts were White nice 5% (started trading on 26th August 2004) amounted to 1,691.73 million Baht. An average daily trading volume of Natural Rubber was 121 contracts valued at 22.29 million baht while the average trading volume of white rice was 196 contracts valued at 19.22 million baht a day. The daily trading volume reached its peak on 19th November 2004 with 906 contracts in total.
Among the existing AFET's members,the top five performers for 2004 are Agrow Enterprise Co.,Ltd.(AGE). Agro Wealth (AGR), U Yong Futures Trading (UYF), DS Futures (DSF), and Global Agro Trade (GAT).
The AFET has set minimum target for brokers to stimulate active marketing.Brokers are main driving force in developing any exchange. If brokers have adequate strength and potential,AFET will have a bright future. In this regard,AFET,in a co-operation with AFETmembers,has planed to organize seminars in major cities with the first event scheduled for Chonburi. In addition, AFET will also organize a futures trading competition among various university students and a number of exhibitions to educate the public.
AFET and the Department of Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce,will jointly conduct a road show to introduce AFET to farmers,farmers associations,co-operations,and entrepreneurs trading agricultural products. The attempt is to develop an intermediary for farming sectors that will enable them to take advantage of hedging at AFET.AFET is also co-operating with Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives (BAAC) for this purpose. Moreover,AFET has transformed a part of its office into investors' corner and a futures library to provide information about Thailand's first futures exchange and the futures industry. A press room with all the facilities is also provided.
"At present, AFET is trying to create as much awareness from the public as possible. We have planned spots to introduce the exchange through television and radio.Daily futures market report will be introduced so that investors can closely follow the exchange movement. We have encouraged the media to report the futures price in daily economic news and to provide futures price on television screen along with the report from the Stock Exchange of Thailand. This will allow investors and those involved with agricultural commodities to use information in their business" said Napaporn
For more information please contact
Namada Saengnimnuan
AVP-Marketing and Public Relations Department
0-2263-9888, 0-1684-5420 End.