The first signs that financial institutions were resuming normal financial business
occurred in 2000 as remaining finance companies began to submit applications to the
Bank of Thailand asking for permission to expand their scopes of business into credit
cards and loan servicing business. In the pre-crisis world, relevant departments within
the Bank of Thailand would vet such requests and submit formal positions to senior
management for final approval in a timely manner. But in the post-crisis period, where
the majority of finance companies suffered irreparable losses from their disproportionate
exposure to the real estate sector relative to commercial banks, authorities questioned the
suitability of reviewing and approving requests on a case-by-case basis relative to
looking at the scope of business in its entirety.
TABLE 1: FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
The crux of the matter basically boiled down to a need to determine the
appropriate role of small financial institutions in the Thai financial landscape, and to
address pending issues raised by domestic and foreign financial institutions including the
future scope of business, organizational structure and efficiency of financial institutions,
and establish complementary supervisory regime capable of supporting, and not
impeding, financial stability and soundness. To address these concerns, the Financial
Institutions Policy Board (FIPB)1 initiated the ‘Recommended Structure for Financial Institutions Project,’ in 2000 with the purpose of formulating the long-term strategy for
Thailand’s financial system, inclusive of all sectors, that would guide public and private
sector policies.
I. METHODOLOGY AND PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION (June 2000-2001)
In its first manifestation (June 2000-2001), the project’s emphasis was divided
into two parts namely market and supervisory reform. This dichotomy required analysts
to research leading financial markets and comparable peer, in order to distinguish
international financial trends and identify potential roles of deposit-taking financial
institutions, scope of business for each type of financial institution, possible structure for
conglomerates and universal banks, and the matching supervisory regime and interagency
coordination.
Together with the above activities, preliminary domestic stocktaking was
undertaken to ascertain shortcomings within each segment of Thailand’s financial
system. This included third party examination of the future direction of finance
companies and credit fonciers, surveys of service providers and corporate users, and a
system wide SWOT2 analysis.
As to be expected from a financial system that had undergone drastic economic
troughs, the studies revealed numerous inherent weaknesses and gaps in financial
services that needed to be addressed if Thailand is to prevent the reoccurrence of 1997,
and keep up with international financial trends. For example, financial institutions’
survey responses revealed that unclear rules and problems with interest rate
benchmarking tools were obstacles staunching capital market growth, while results of the
SWOT analysis showed how inadequate internal risk management practices and tools
left financial institutions unable to adequately measure, monitor and manage their
material risks.
The findings from these initial cross-country studies, surveys and SWOT analysis
were later used as background information for discussions by the Eminent Persons
Meeting,3 made up of financial experts from supervisory agencies, financial institutions,
large domestic conglomerate, and academia. Given the disparate nature of Thailand’s
financial system, coupled with the fact that this was only the first round of discussion,
much of the group’s proposals were fragmented. Nevertheless it was agreed that with the
right background information, a forum of experts could help crystallize the project’s
objective and vision.
Another endearing recommendation that originated from the discussion was the
proposal to invite greater public participation using the methodology applied by the
National Economic and Social Development Board’s (NESDB) to draw up Thailand’s
Ninth National Economic and Social Development Plan.4 Prior to this, financial sector
development often applied the top-down approach dominated by regulators and policy
makers. The procedure used by the NESDB on the other hand opens the door for a
bottom-up approach by soliciting public comments and debates via hearings and focus
groups. Using this methodology, researchers would therefore be able to capture and
distill complex issues into manageable topics while at the same time generating
proposals that respond to actual market and grass-root demands.
II. MODIFICATION OF METHODOLOGY
The need to develop a comprehensive financial sector development plan did
not recede following the transfer of governorship of the Bank of Thailand from
M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul to M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula in May 2001. Governor
M.R. Pridiyathorn was a key participant in the Eminent Persons Meeting held in April
2001, and took up the top post at the Bank of Thailand with the view that the project
should remain on the agenda but with a more focused scope and objective that better
reflects Thailand’s environmental limitations and economic reality.
Reengineered Scope: Tackling the Dominant Banking Sector
The project’s scope was
reduced from encompassing the
entire Thai financial system to
covering mainly deposit-taking
financial institutions under the
supervision of the Bank of
Thailand, namely commercial
banks, finance companies, credit
fonciers, and international
banking facilities.
Several compelling
reasons substantiated this
amendment. First, even though
there are some signs that the role of commercial bank loans has been slowly declining
over-time (Chart 1), Thailand is still considered a bank-based economy whereby
financial institutions under the supervision of the Bank of Thailand dominate the
financial sector. Given this reliance on commercial bank financing, Thailand’s
economy as a whole is bound to benefit from policies that improve efficiency and
ability of deposit-taking institutions to offer innovative products at competitive prices.
Second, as commercial banks’ started to return to profitability in 2000 (Chart 2)
and less preoccupied with internal restructuring, the situation was right for authorities to pursue dramatic market reforms. Third, with commercial banks having the biggest
and most widespread distribution channels relative to other types of financial
institutions, they offer a powerful tool for providing financial services, such as
securities and insurance, to various underserved communities nationwide. Lastly, any
development plan that covered the capital market would be potentially duplicate the
Stock Exchange of Thailand’s (SET) Capital Market Master Plan.
Expansion of Objective: Focusing on the Underserved
Adding a new dimension
to the project was the expansion
of objective beyond purely
increasing efficiency of the
modern sector to also address the
needs of Thailand’s dual
economy and the urban and
rural underserved communities.
Different from Singapore
and Hong Kong, Thailand’s
unique economy is characterized
by the coexistence of highly
industrialized and modern urban manufacturing sector with a traditional sector outside
Bangkok, employing the majority of the workforce, which account for a relatively
small portion of the country’s GDP.5 Thailand therefore needs a financial system that
can use market forces to support feasible rural development policies and uplift rural
income.
Following this policy shift, the project’s emphasis was divided into urban and
rural parts. The latter of which entailed cross-country studies of countries with
economic profiles similar to Thailand such as South Africa and Bolivia together with
internal analysis of the role of government-owned specialized financial institutions
(SFIs)6 and the manner with which private commercial banks and/or market forces can
profitably cater their services to the underserved.
III. FROM PROJECT TO FINANCIAL SECTOR MASTER PLAN (FSMP)
With a clear scope and objective, the Bank of Thailand invited international
experts to share their knowledge of financial sector development plans and new market
challenges with local public and private sector practitioners. Up to that time, there had
been a growing consensus among supervisors that carefully deliberated development
plans offered a structured long-term approach to financial sector development.
Although the objectives of each plan vary from one another given each country’sdifferent levels of economic development, financial innovation, and regulatory regime,
Thailand could still benefit from the experiences of countries that have already
developed and implemented their respective plans.
The Bank of Thailand subsequently organized the seminar on “Modernizing
Our Financial System: Challenges for the New Millennium,” in January 2002 with
guest speakers made up of financial experts who have direct experience developing
financial sector development plans for Australia and Canada, as well as experts on
international financial trends, and microfinance in South Africa. (Please see Governor
M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula’s Opening Remarks in Appendix B) Through the seminar,
the Bank of Thailand received numerous useful ideas and list of relevant financial
issues to help guide Thailand’s approach toward financial sector improvements.
(Lessons Learned from Seminar is in Appendix C)
Beyond learning about the methodology for formulating a comprehensive
financial sector development plan, participants also discussed the forces of change at
work in the international financial landscape (please see Box 1). Being a small marketoriented
open economy with financial linkages to the international financial markets, it
is of utmost importance for Thailand’s domestic financial institutions to be alert to the
global changes and incorporate th
The first signs that financial institutions were resuming normal financial business
occurred in 2000 as remaining finance companies began to submit applications to the
Bank of Thailand asking for permission to expand their scopes of business into credit
cards and loan servicing business. In the pre-crisis world, relevant departments within
the Bank of Thailand would vet such requests and submit formal positions to senior
management for final approval in a timely manner. But in the post-crisis period, where
the majority of finance companies suffered irreparable losses from their disproportionate
exposure to the real estate sector relative to commercial banks, authorities questioned the
suitability of reviewing and approving requests on a case-by-case basis relative to
looking at the scope of business in its entirety.
TABLE 1: FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
The crux of the matter basically boiled down to a need to determine the
appropriate role of small financial institutions in the Thai financial landscape, and to
address pending issues raised by domestic and foreign financial institutions including the
future scope of business, organizational structure and efficiency of financial institutions,
and establish complementary supervisory regime capable of supporting, and not
impeding, financial stability and soundness. To address these concerns, the Financial
Institutions Policy Board (FIPB)1 initiated the ‘Recommended Structure for Financial Institutions Project,’ in 2000 with the purpose of formulating the long-term strategy for
Thailand’s financial system, inclusive of all sectors, that would guide public and private
sector policies.
I. METHODOLOGY AND PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION (June 2000-2001)
In its first manifestation (June 2000-2001), the project’s emphasis was divided
into two parts namely market and supervisory reform. This dichotomy required analysts
to research leading financial markets and comparable peer, in order to distinguish
international financial trends and identify potential roles of deposit-taking financial
institutions, scope of business for each type of financial institution, possible structure for
conglomerates and universal banks, and the matching supervisory regime and interagency
coordination.
Together with the above activities, preliminary domestic stocktaking was
undertaken to ascertain shortcomings within each segment of Thailand’s financial
system. This included third party examination of the future direction of finance
companies and credit fonciers, surveys of service providers and corporate users, and a
system wide SWOT2 analysis.
As to be expected from a financial system that had undergone drastic economic
troughs, the studies revealed numerous inherent weaknesses and gaps in financial
services that needed to be addressed if Thailand is to prevent the reoccurrence of 1997,
and keep up with international financial trends. For example, financial institutions’
survey responses revealed that unclear rules and problems with interest rate
benchmarking tools were obstacles staunching capital market growth, while results of the
SWOT analysis showed how inadequate internal risk management practices and tools
left financial institutions unable to adequately measure, monitor and manage their
material risks.
The findings from these initial cross-country studies, surveys and SWOT analysis
were later used as background information for discussions by the Eminent Persons
Meeting,3 made up of financial experts from supervisory agencies, financial institutions,
large domestic conglomerate, and academia. Given the disparate nature of Thailand’s
financial system, coupled with the fact that this was only the first round of discussion,
much of the group’s proposals were fragmented. Nevertheless it was agreed that with the
right background information, a forum of experts could help crystallize the project’s
objective and vision.
Another endearing recommendation that originated from the discussion was the
proposal to invite greater public participation using the methodology applied by the
National Economic and Social Development Board’s (NESDB) to draw up Thailand’s
Ninth National Economic and Social Development Plan.4 Prior to this, financial sector
development often applied the top-down approach dominated by regulators and policy
makers. The procedure used by the NESDB on the other hand opens the door for a
bottom-up approach by soliciting public comments and debates via hearings and focus
groups. Using this methodology, researchers would therefore be able to capture and
distill complex issues into manageable topics while at the same time generating
proposals that respond to actual market and grass-root demands.
II. MODIFICATION OF METHODOLOGY
The need to develop a comprehensive financial sector development plan did
not recede following the transfer of governorship of the Bank of Thailand from
M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul to M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula in May 2001. Governor
M.R. Pridiyathorn was a key participant in the Eminent Persons Meeting held in April
2001, and took up the top post at the Bank of Thailand with the view that the project
should remain on the agenda but with a more focused scope and objective that better
reflects Thailand’s environmental limitations and economic reality.
Reengineered Scope: Tackling the Dominant Banking Sector
The project’s scope was
reduced from encompassing the
entire Thai financial system to
covering mainly deposit-taking
financial institutions under the
supervision of the Bank of
Thailand, namely commercial
banks, finance companies, credit
fonciers, and international
banking facilities.
Several compelling
reasons substantiated this
amendment. First, even though
there are some signs that the role of commercial bank loans has been slowly declining
over-time (Chart 1), Thailand is still considered a bank-based economy whereby
financial institutions under the supervision of the Bank of Thailand dominate the
financial sector. Given this reliance on commercial bank financing, Thailand’s
economy as a whole is bound to benefit from policies that improve efficiency and
ability of deposit-taking institutions to offer innovative products at competitive prices.
Second, as commercial banks’ started to return to profitability in 2000 (Chart 2)
and less preoccupied with internal restructuring, the situation was right for authorities to pursue dramatic market reforms. Third, with commercial banks having the biggest
and most widespread distribution channels relative to other types of financial
institutions, they offer a powerful tool for providing financial services, such as
securities and insurance, to various underserved communities nationwide. Lastly, any
development plan that covered the capital market would be potentially duplicate the
Stock Exchange of Thailand’s (SET) Capital Market Master Plan.
Expansion of Objective: Focusing on the Underserved
Adding a new dimension
to the project was the expansion
of objective beyond purely
increasing efficiency of the
modern sector to also address the
needs of Thailand’s dual
economy and the urban and
rural underserved communities.
Different from Singapore
and Hong Kong, Thailand’s
unique economy is characterized
by the coexistence of highly
industrialized and modern urban manufacturing sector with a traditional sector outside
Bangkok, employing the majority of the workforce, which account for a relatively
small portion of the country’s GDP.5 Thailand therefore needs a financial system that
can use market forces to support feasible rural development policies and uplift rural
income.
Following this policy shift, the project’s emphasis was divided into urban and
rural parts. The latter of which entailed cross-country studies of countries with
economic profiles similar to Thailand such as South Africa and Bolivia together with
internal analysis of the role of government-owned specialized financial institutions
(SFIs)6 and the manner with which private commercial banks and/or market forces can
profitably cater their services to the underserved.
III. FROM PROJECT TO FINANCIAL SECTOR MASTER PLAN (FSMP)
With a clear scope and objective, the Bank of Thailand invited international
experts to share their knowledge of financial sector development plans and new market
challenges with local public and private sector practitioners. Up to that time, there had
been a growing consensus among supervisors that carefully deliberated development
plans offered a structured long-term approach to financial sector development.
Although the objectives of each plan vary from one another given each country’sdifferent levels of economic development, financial innovation, and regulatory regime,
Thailand could still benefit from the experiences of countries that have already
developed and implemented their respective plans.
The Bank of Thailand subsequently organized the seminar on “Modernizing
Our Financial System: Challenges for the New Millennium,” in January 2002 with
guest speakers made up of financial experts who have direct experience developing
financial sector development plans for Australia and Canada, as well as experts on
international financial trends, and microfinance in South Africa. (Please see Governor
M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula’s Opening Remarks in Appendix B) Through the seminar,
the Bank of Thailand received numerous useful ideas and list of relevant financial
issues to help guide Thailand’s approach toward financial sector improvements.
(Lessons Learned from Seminar is in Appendix C)
Beyond learning about the methodology for formulating a comprehensive
financial sector development plan, participants also discussed the forces of change at
work in the international financial landscape (please see Box 1). Being a small marketoriented
open economy with financial linkages to the international financial markets, it
is of utmost importance for Thailand’s domestic financial institutions to be alert to the
global changes and incorporate th
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