Bangkok--20 Jun--SET The Market for Alternative Investment (mai) hosted the 5th Asia-Pacific New Markets Forum, involving executives representing new market stock exchanges from 12 countries, on June 18 — 19, in Bangkok. mai announced its intention to become more regionally competitive. The event strengthened relationships between the so-called “new markets” - stock exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region listing companies with high-growth potential. The forum enabled representatives from different countries to exchange ideas and experiences on new market development, mai President Chanitr Charnchainarong said. Renowned participants included Mr. Arulnathan Michael Dass, from Bursa Malaysia Berhad and Ms. Lily Chia, from the Singapore Exchange’s Catalist Business Development. Bursa Malaysia Berhad had improved their bourse’s capacity to deal with an increased range of investment alternatives by emphasizing strategies to promote the listing of potentially qualified companies and enhance investor quality. The Singapore exchange’s ‘Catalist’ also encourages firms with strong growth-potential to list. Catalist adapted London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM)’s model by applying it with increased oversight of financial advisors’ qualifications, reflecting the concerns of local regulators. Catalist also cut the probation period for companies preparing to list, Mr. Chanitr added. Regarding SME-focused stock exchanges, Ms. Satoko Yamazaki, representative from Jasdaq Securities Exchange, Inc. (Jasdaq) of Japan and Mr. Richard Symon from the National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSXA) shared their experiences on encouraging companies to list. Jasdaq’s high-tech platform supports technology and high-growth potential businesses. Jasdaq is the only exchange in Japan that focuses on joint ventures and SMEs, Ms. Yamazaki said. NSXA has adjusted its regulations and reduced fees to facilitate listing. The exchange’s aggressive marketing strategy, in coordination with local organizations and business units, identifies and encourages potential listing targets. NSXA has an aggressive marketing strategy, coordinating with local organizations such as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Exchanges in order to identify potential listings, including giving such intermediary organizations financial incentives, Mr. Symon said. Sufficient investment funds are needed to fuel the high growth rates of new market exchanges. In 2007, GreTai Securities Market in Taiwan was able to raise investment funds from venture capitalists to support up to 32 % of all firms listed, GreTai Securities Market’s representative Daung-Yen Lu said. Korea Exchange Inc.’s KOSDAQ attracted enough venture capital to cover almost half the companies listed on the exchange. This was a great example of an effective fund-raising scheme for new markets and could offer Thailand a model, KOSDAQ’s representative Sung-Shin Kwak noted. Hosting the 5th Asia-Pacific New Markets Forum heralds mai’s readiness to become a significant player in the Asia — Pacific region, Mr. Chanitr concluded.