MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR
It is generally accepted that although the 1997 financial crisis started from
disequilibria in the currency market, it was the weaknesses within Thailand’s financial
system, previously masked by rapid economic growth that intensified the economic
recession. Thailand has undertaken numerous policy measures to restore stability to the
financial system such as closing of nonviable banks and finance companies,
recapitalization of the financial institutions by both private and public initiatives, debt
restructuring and resolution, asset liquidation, and the consolidation of weak financial
institutions with stronger ones. Complementary to these efforts, the Bank of Thailand
has also engaged in dramatic internal reforms that resulted in the realignment of its
organization structure with the new risk-based supervisory framework.
The return of banking profitability in 2001 signaled a turnaround of the crisis
and an opportunity to focus on developing a financial system. The new goal is to
provide the system with sufficient resiliency to withstand new competitive forces
brought about through trade liberalization and appropriation of traditional banking
services by non-bank entrants. The growing availability of new financial services and
technology that allows risk to be priced, diversified, and shared cross borders further
requires a modernization of both players and supervisors. Business wise, this meant
employing comprehensive risk management tools, IT systems and continuing efforts to
strengthen banking income through cost-cutting measures, improved credit
underwriting standards, and new income channels such as fee-based services and retail
banking. To assist these initiatives, integral commercial banking laws, regulations as
well as supervisory efforts are also being updated, thereby enhancing supervisory
flexibility and adaptability suitable for rapid financial innovation.
In terms of structure, these efforts entailed the streamlining of Thailand’s
financial institution system and development of a coherent context with which to chart
future progress. This resulted in the joint effort between the Bank of Thailand and
Ministry of Finance (MOF) to formulate the Financial Sector Master Plan (FSMP) as
the medium-term development plan for financial institutions under the supervision of
the Bank of Thailand. The main thrust of the FSMP entails the re-engineering of the
financial institution landscape through the promotion of competency driven
consolidation and modification of relevant prudential guidelines. These developments
in turn provide commercial banks with more flexibility to position themselves that best
leverages their expertise and strategic preference. As a roadmap for development, the
FSMP provides a framework to facilitate the evolution of financial services and future
increases in competition.
The intention of this Handbook is to offer readers an insight into the
assumptions and rationale that underlie the future direction of Thailand’s financial
sector. The recommendations within the FSMP are neither fixed nor posed as definitive
answers to financial sector development. Yet mutual understanding fostered by this
Handbook will allow relevant stakeholders a common platform for future dialogues and
exchange of ideas. This will be highly useful for the next phase of the FSMP whereby
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further liberalization and deregulation depend upon the results of impact and
competitive studies on the FSMP’s phase one implementation. It is our hope that the
outcomes derived from this project will lay the foundation for a stable financial sector
that is responsive to the genuine economic and development needs of Thailand’s dual
economy.