The Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the local division of the UN Development Programme (UNDP Thailand) have launched the Thailand SDG Investor Map, a market intelligence tool aimed at increasing financing for sustainable development goals (SDGs) priorities that align with government development plans.
The map identifies 15 investment opportunities focused on aiding vulnerable communities and addressing productivity issues in eight SDG-related sectors, comprising food and beverages, renewable resources and alternative energy, health services, transport, financials, infrastructure, services and education.
The map also highlights investor sentiment in sub-sectors and broad opportunities, while identifying viable business models that need support.
Thailand is one of 20 countries to have such a map, which can be accessed online on the SDG Investor Platform.
Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said completing the SDGs requires a significant investment that the government cannot achieve on its own.
"We need to unlock a new source of finance, especially from the private sector. The Thailand SDG Investor Map could help facilitate this by providing investors localised insights into market conditions, highlighting SDG investment opportunity areas as well as the expected development impact of such investments," he said.
Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, secretary-general of the SEC, said all business sectors are increasingly paying attention to environmental, social and governance responsibilities because companies with policies on contributing to positive social impacts earn more credibility and subsequently more opportunities to create sustainable business growth.
She said the map should raise investment demand for companies that give equal weight to financial returns and sustainable economic and social development, while helping enhance awareness and integration of sustainability among private companies.
In the longer term, the map will help build a sustainable capital market ecosystem that will be a crucial mechanism in helping the country achieve its SDGs, said Ms Ruenvadee.
UNDP Thailand and its partners, such as the Singapore-based non-profit organisation Temasek Trust, plan to continue to host events that bring together investors and policymakers to share experiences and collaborate, while ensuring that every party makes full use of the map.
