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On April 28, 2025, Thai finance authorities announced a new initiative for ESG investments, introducing tax incentives and a service for LTF holdings transfers to bolster sustainability-minded investments in Thailand.
Bangkok, 28 April 2025 – The Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC), and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) today jointly announced a collaborative initiative to facilitate investments in Thailand ESG Extra Funds (Thai ESGX) and the transfers of units of Long-Term Equity Funds (LTF), starting May 2, 2025.
Facilitating this initiative, a new centralized service providing investors with access to consolidated data of their LTF holdings will be available on SET website to support their decision-making on LTF investment switching under the government’s new tax incentive program. The asset management industry projected that Thai ESGX will attract not less than THB 20 billion (approx. USD 596.48 million) worth of investment.
This initiative follows the government’s recent introduction of tax incentives aimed at bolstering investments in ESG stocks and strengthening the Thai capital market. These incentives apply to both new investments in Thai ESGX and the transfers of existing LTF investments to Thai ESGX during a designated two-month window from May to June 2025, in accordance with the Revenue Department’s rules. The SEC has established relevant regulatory guidelines governing the establishment and management of Thai ESGX, and a total of 37 Thai ESGX from 19 asset management companies (AMCs) are seeking the SEC’s approval.
The asset management industry will begin offering Thai ESGX on May 2, 2025 while the LTF investment transfer service will become available on May 13. Additionally, investors will be able to access a consolidated dashboard of their entire LTF holdings through a dedicated portal on SET website at www.set.or.th/ltf from May 2, 2025 onwards to support their decision-making on the transfer of their investments from LTFs to Thai ESGX for tax deduction benefits.
Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) International Economic Advisor Warotai Kosolpisitkul stated:
“Following a wave of LTF redemptions in early 2025 which affected the Thai capital market, this tax incentive program has been initiated with aims to stabilize the market, bolster fundraising through SET, and promote investments in ESG stocks. The two-prong incentive for new and existing investments is 1) Tax benefits for new investments in Thai ESGX, and 2) Tax benefits for LTF transfers to Thai ESGX. These measures will provide investors with additional investment alternatives, expand the number of sustainability-conscious investors, increase the proportion of institutional investors focusing on sustainability-related stocks, and ultimately incentivize listed companies to adapt their businesses towards long-term sustainability.”
SEC Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon shared that the SEC is confident Thai ESGX will serve as a key mechanism for advancing ESG practices across various business sectors and Thailand’s national sustainability agenda while also encouraging greater public participation in the capital market through long-term investments. “The SEC has expedited related regulatory adjustments, allowing AMCs to apply for fund establishment and obtain approvals within the targeted timeline. Additionally, the SEC has coordinated with AIMC, AMCs, and the SET Group to provide unitholders with convenient access to their consolidated LTF holdings. To qualify for the tax incentive, unitholders must transfer their entire LTF holdings from all AMCs to Thai ESGX,” added Pornanong.
AIMC Director Theeranat Rujimethapass said on behalf of the Thai asset management companies: “As asset managers, we are committed to ensuring that investments will deliver long-term value for investors while supporting Thai capital market stability and driving ESG excellence among listed companies working towards net-zero targets and Thailand’s sustainability.” He also highlighted significant progress since the December 2023 introduction of Thai ESG funds which includes higher investor participation (252,403 unitholders as of end-2024), increasing assets under management (THB 33.07 billion as of March 31, 2025), and expanding coverage from approximately 200 listed companies upon the initial launch of Thai ESG funds to over 440.
© 2024 Siam News Network
