Become a Digital SMEs Gateway, supporting Thai entrepreneurs to access capital.

“From TCG's vision, it is to be a center linking capital and opportunities for SMEs for sustainable growth. As a result, the direction of operations focuses on being an intermediary in supporting SMEs to access credit. By developing channels for SMEs to easily access TCG and funding sources through the use of digital as a tool for operations. To drive the organization towards the Digital SMEs Gateway”

Sittikorn Direksunthorn
Director and General Manager
Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG)

 เป็น Digital SMEs Gateway
Support Thai entrepreneurs to access capital sources

SMEs play a very important role in driving the growth of the Thai economy. Especially in the area of ​​employment. However, at present there are still Thai SMEs who are unable to access funding sources in the system. Therefore Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) Under the leadership of Sittikorn Direksuntorn, Director and General Manager Therefore, we have moved forward to act as an intermediary for entrepreneurs to access funding sources.

Sittikorn gave a special interview bank finance that after accepting the position on January 4, 2565, it was found that there were still SMEs entrepreneurs who still did not have access to funding sources in the system. Therefore, TCG's position was set to be a center linking funds and opportunities. to SMEs

“From TCG's vision, it is to be a center linking capital and opportunities for SMEs for sustainable growth. As a result, the direction of operations focuses on being an intermediary in supporting SMEs to access credit. By developing channels for SMEs to easily access TCG and funding sources through the use of digital as a tool for operations. To drive the organization towards the Digital SMEs Gateway”

expect Thai SMEs 2566 Grow as much as before COVID-19

Sittikorn said The Thai economy in the first quarter of 2566 continued to expand, expanding by 2.7% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, it is expected that the Thai economy this year will expand higher than last year. Some agencies expect that the Thai economy this year will expand as high as 2.7-3.7%. In the next period, the Thai economy is likely to continue expanding. Therefore, it is possible that the overall Thai economy is close to the level before the COVID crisis. and is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by the middle of this year.

As for the situation, data from the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) found that the number of SMEs entrepreneurs at the end of 2565 was approximately 3.12 million, with the majority being the Micro group and mostly in the service and service sectors. In 2566, SMEs that are expected to grow well include:

1. tourism sector and related trade and service businesses Because Thailand opened the country after Covid-19 Since the end of 2565, foreign tourist arrivals have increased. The cumulative number from the end of 2565 - February 2566 is more than 6 million, along with China beginning to open the country, which will be an important driving force for domestic tourism in Thailand to recover back to near the level before the Covid-crisis. 19 In addition, in the past period it was also seen that the sports competition business group Organizing events and various concerts also increased greatly

2. industry Intermediate S-Curve For example, agriculture, food, and biological are industries that are the strength of Thailand. Electric vehicle industry Currently, many companies intend to use Thailand as a hub for creating electric vehicles. In the logistics field, Thailand will continue to be a distribution center, and Digital & Startup is an industry that is suitable for Thailand. Because it has the advantage of both location and various resources.
3. Business groups that support environmental protection Because at present the world is giving importance to reducing greenhouse gas emissions or Net zero in order to reduce the risk of climate change, therefore conducting business in an environmentally friendly manner. Therefore, it is a business group that has a tendency to grow.

“From the trend of the Thai economy that is expected to expand continuously. Especially in the tourism and service sectors, therefore, TCG expects that the growth rate of SME business (SME GDP) in 2566 will expand between 4.0-5.1%, which is close to the average of the previous 3 years. VID-19 (2560-2562) that is equal to 4.5%.”

Driving Strategy 4Ps+1D Set a target for 66 total guarantee of 9.5 billion baht.

Sittikorn said For TCG's performance during January-April 2566, there is a new credit guarantee approval limit of 44,239 million baht, representing 47% compared to the full-year target of 95,000 million baht and the amount of guarantee (Letter of Guarantee: LG) approved 24,850 documents and helped 24,516 SMEs customers access capital.

In order to reach the goals set in 2566, TCG has a guideline to drive operations under the TCG Fast & First values, fast, careful, and number one in the hearts of SMEs through the implementation of the 4Ps+1D strategy, including:

1. Product & Sales Portfolio Mix management and segmentation credit insurance products have been developed to target clearly defined groups to meet the characteristics and needs of SMEs more precisely.
2. Partnership Add partners to develop business models (Business Model) together with partners. in developing the Digital Platform model and developing the Ecosystem Model
3. Platform By creating a Digital Platform to act as an intermediary (Gateway) connecting TCG with financial institutions and service providers on each platform to make it accessible to customers through online channels.
4. Planet Driving the BCG economic model with financial support measures to respond to environmentally friendly ESG and BCG entrepreneurs.
5. Debt management Management of existing and new debtors through measures of 3 colors, green, yellow and purple, along with adjusting processes and launching debt management campaigns to suit each group of debtors.

In addition, TCG has a policy that aims to support entrepreneurs in both Financial and Non-Financial aspects through various services of TCG, including:

1. Loan Guarantee TCG supports and assists SMEs of all groups and sizes to have access to funding sources by providing loan guarantees. In order to be able to run a business that grows sustainably There are also a variety of loan guarantee products. Divided into government projects and the project itself
2. Providing financial and business advice to SMEs Through the TCG FA Center channel to promote financial knowledge and enhance the capabilities of all groups of SMEs. Currently, there are 13,073 entrepreneurs participating in the TCG FA Center, divided into those who have registered to receive the offer. There were 4,733 consultations and 8,340 people registered for training. In addition, TCG has collaborated with the Bank of Thailand (BoT) in the Debt Doctor for the People project. The cumulative total from May 1, 2564 to April 30, 2566 has 7,495 people registered to receive counseling through the BoT, with TCG FA Center receiving 675 cases from this project.
3. Helping debtors solve their debts sustainably By measures, TCG is ready to help improve the debt structure. Solve sustainable debt To relieve debtors' burden so that they can continue to support their businesses, there are 15,218 SMEs who have contacted and requested to join the measures, both SMEs that are TCG debtors and general SMEs, including 9,021 SMEs that have received debt reorganization, amounting to 3,393 million baht.

“The role of TCG has two main roles: both a financial role, which is issuing letters of guarantee to SMEs that lack collateral to access credit in the financial institution system, and a non-financial role, which is being a financial advisor through TCG FA. Center”

 Accelerating innovation development heading towards Digital SMEs Gateway

As for the plan to drive the organization towards the Digital SMEs Gateway, Sittikorn said: TCG has prepared a digital infrastructure to support expansion and increase operational efficiency. As well as using customer data to develop Credit Scoring and reduce inequality in access to financial institutions for low-income entrepreneurs and vulnerable groups as follows:

1. Develop basic infrastructure digital infrastructure that can connect current electronic transactions to various systems of financial institutions and non-banks, including other partners that are currently being developed and used, such as e-KYC, e-NCB, dStatement
2. Develop innovation in guarantees By laying down strategies and guidelines for linking the Platform with the Digital Ecosystem of external platforms of partner agencies to support Big Data to increase efficiency. and convenience in working
3. Develop innovations to increase channels to reach customers (Customer Touchpoint) Through Line OA to increase convenience and speed in providing services to SMEs customers in various forms such as basic financial health check (Financial Health Check), debt repayment registration and Chatbot. Currently, TCG is in the process of Develop systems related to providing other customer services.

“Services that we will add through Line OA, such as viewing the insurance status. Appointment of a financial advisor or FA Center. In addition, TCG also aims to develop branch staff to be able to provide financial advisory services to SMEs in the FA Center section at the branch as well.”

4. Progress in project development Innovation and Digital in 2565 and continue in 2566

(1) The Digital Gateway project connects guarantee transactions via API with financial institutions and partner agencies.

(2) Credit Scoring Project with improvements and developments To be used with Commercial Product, especially making RBP.

(3) Data Management Project, data management To collect and support a large database of customers The data can be analyzed efficiently.

“TCG's work emphasizes the integration of forwards, midfielders and defenders. The forwards are the FA Center, helping to provide advice to SMEs. The midfield is TCG's products that target a clear target group. and the defender is Debt restructuring measures to bring entrepreneurs back to normal debt faster. Every process will be linked through the Digital Platform.”

Follow and read the CEO Talk column. Available in the June 2566 issue of Finance and Banking Journal. Issue 493 In digital format: https://goo.gl/U6OnIi

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