กรุงเทพฯ--21 มิ.ย.--SET The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is encouraging listed companies to set up risk management systems as an integral part of good corporate governance (CG), to reduce risks and enhance credibility with shareholders and the public. SET will undertake a range of activities to promote understanding of CG, including engaging consultants to advise public firms and disseminating information free-of-charge through its website. The aim is to raise CG scores in the areas of directors’ responsibilities from 58% to 64%, and shareholders’ rights from 71% to 75% by 2008. Because improving risk management is a crucial part of good CG, it has become a major undertaking for SET in upgrading the quality of listed firms and making the overall capital market more attractive, SET President Ms. Patareeya Benjapolchai said, in opening today’s (June 20, 2007) seminar: “Techniques for the worthwhile and sustainable development of risk management systems”. “Developing good CG has long been part of SET’s mission, because it is fundamental in ensuring that all listed companies operate in a transparent, fair and stakeholder-oriented manner, which, in turn, will ultimately add more to the price and value of a company, increase its competitiveness and promote its sustainable growth. “A good-CG-driven policy will create long-term investor confidence in the Thai capital market and support Thailand’s sustainable economic growth,” Ms. Patareeya stated. To encourage listed firms to establish good CG systems, SET advises them on implementation and provides clear and updated guidelines. In H2/2007, the Exchange will hold five seminars involving the Thai Institute of Directors (Thai IOD), so that public companies will become more familiar with the standards, methods and scoring of different aspects of CG assessment. Furthermore, SET’s Corporate Governance Center will consult with executives from 70 to 80 listed firms. SET has been organizing seminars on risk management since 2003, and in this year’s seminar has been supported by Listed Companies Association (LCA), Thailand Management Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers. About 400 people, including listed firms’ executives and the public, attended this event and gave very positive feedback. “Because several public companies want on-going risk-management training, the LCA will hold workshops for them during August 27-29, at which leading executives will share their experiences in risk management system development.” LCA Vice Chairman Dr. Veeravat Kanchanadul stated. “Listed firms implement risk management systematically and continuously, with solid support from top management, to add value and provide greater investment opportunity while, at the same time, reducing risks that might negatively affect them, “PricewaterhouseCoopers Partner Ms. Varunee Pridanonda said. PricewaterhouseCoopers’ booklets, entitled “10 Interesting Q&A on Risk Management” and “Guidelines to Risk Management”, can be downloaded free-of-charge from SET’s website www.set.or.th . For more information, please contact the Corporate Communications Dept.: Ladawan Kantawong Tel: 0-2229-2036 / Sarinluck Jitkawong Tel: 0-2229-2037 / Nattaporn Boonprapa Tel: 0-2229-2049 / Watsamon Saowakhonsathien Tel: 0-2229-2797