Bangkok--26 Mar--SET At today (March 25, 2008)’s important seminar, Surviving the Intensified Global Capital Market Competition, The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) announced that it is enhancing the market’s ability to deal with fierce global competition. SET has engaged specialists to recommend up-to-date strategies and information on global trends to maintain and increase the market’s international significance. Competition within the worldwide securities industry over the past five years has been intense and the Thai capital market has been marginalized because of its average annual growth rate of 8.5% - which is very slow, compared with other emerging markets which have achieved average growth rates of 35% and, in China and India’s case, higher. Both these countries have open economic systems that pose risks to small markets like Thailand, SET Chairman Pakorn Malakul na Ayudhya said. “With more intense global competition, the Exchange has to review its strategies and structure and those of its subsidiaries to enhance competitiveness. Currently, three options are under consideration: 1) the demutualization of SET, 2) the privatization of SET and 3) the listing of SET on the stock market,” Mr. Pakorn stated. Today’s seminar dealt with all these options, any of which would be crucial turning points for Thailand. The event provided an opportunity for in-depth discussion and deliberation by all related parties and allowed us to consider the experience of other markets, Mr. Pakorn concluded. The Exchange will pursue three major strategies simultaneously: capital market development, SET restructuring and network creation among regional stock markets, SET President Patareeya Benjapolchai said. “From today, the Thai capital market will undergo a major change, with the guidelines approved by the Minister of Finance, highlighting that Thailand needs to come up with a systematic development plan for the capital market embracing all relevant dimensions,” said Ms. Patareeya. Participants at the seminar, jointly organized by SET, the Association of Securities Companies (ASCO) and Capital Market Academy, heard from global experts, who have previously dealt with “turning points” in the capital market, and were willing to share their invaluable experience. These experts included Boston Consulting Group’s Antonio Riera, Senior Partner & MD, who has consulted with several international stock markets; Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission former Chairman Andrew Cheng and Singapore Exchange Ltd.’s CEO Hsieh Fu Hua. 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