Bangkok--29 Aug--set Students in grades 1 — 12 will now be able to read about His Majesty the King’s principles of sufficiency economy in an text developed by The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)’s Thailand Securities Institute, together with the Ministry of Education’s Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Siam Commercial Bank PCL (SCB), Thai Life Assurance Association (TLAA) and Thailand Productivity Institute. The book, covering personal finance, insurance, creative thinking and the principles of sufficiency economy, is the first of a series of projects launched under a memorandum of understanding signed today (August 28) by the five organizations. The volume is to be included in the additional reading list for Social, Religious and Cultural Studies pupils in schools under OBEC supervision. It is planned to have further texts available for all grades by 2008. “SET is very pleased to play a key role in this project. We would like to thank the other organizations for their involvement in both the budget and content. We trust that this book will assist youth in life skills development, leading them to achieve personal financial stability and contribute to national economic stability,” SET President Ms. Patareeya Benjapolchai said. “OBEC will publish and distribute the books to about 13,000 schools, encouraging them to use it well and promote it widely,” OBEC Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Somkiat Chobphol stated. “Siam Commercial Bank is delighted to be part of the program. SCB has organized several youth education activities, including the reading habits promotion project, various financial publications, and books on the sufficiency economy. Youth education is part our mission, as young people are the nation’s future,” SCB President Ms. Kannikar Chalitaporn added. If young people become knowledgeable adults who can understand and manage associated risks, they will be able to efficiently handle their finance, savings and insurance, TLAA President Mr. Sara Lamsam noted. Supporting education is essential for human capital development and national competitiveness. Intellectual growth must begin at a young age, as the earlier human resources mature, the sooner the nation benefits from them, Thailand Productivity Institute’s Director, Dr. Panich Laosirirat stated. These supplementary reading texts promoting the philosophy of sufficiency economy are easy to read and understand. For example, formats will range from storybooks for grades 1 — 3 students, to illustrated booklets for grades 4 - 6. Distribution will commence in Q4/2007 and continue throughout 2008. 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