Page 216 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

due to a lack of financial statements, insufficient collateral, or failure to demonstrate a profit in
at least one of the past three years (GSB, n.d.) 174 .

The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME D Bank) is a state-
owned financial institution that provides funding services and investment support for small-

scale entrepreneurs. One of its key programs, SME SpeedUp, offers loans of up to 5 million baht
(SME D Bank, 2024) with starting interest rates at 6%. Borrowers may also obtain loan
guarantees from the Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation (SICGC). While the bank does
not currently offer loan products specifically for social enterprises, it does operate a program
called DCoach, which provides professional business consulting services. This program delivers
comprehensive guidance on topics such as online marketing, export standards, product
development, business planning, accounting and finance, taxation, and business incubation,
helping prepare enterprises to access funding sources (SME Development Bank, n.d.) 175 .

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET)

SET supports the social enterprise sector through its SETSocial Impact Platform, which
collaborates with intermediary organizations such as ChangeFusion. This platform plays a
critical role in developing and strengthening collaborative networks, with the goal of amplifying
positive social impact and addressing social challenges through business-driven solutions. As
this example illustrates, many funding entities in the ecosystem not only offer financial
assistance but also provide educational support and fundraising guidance (Set Social Impact,
176
n.d.) .

The Office of Social Enterprise Promotion (OSEP)

The Office of Social Enterprise Promotion (OSEP) has established a fund to provide financial
incentives for social enterprises, including low-interest loans and other favorable financing
terms that support business formation, expansion, and improvement. Repayment periods may
be extended for up to four years. The office also serves as a coordinating body, helping connect
social enterprises with funding sources from both the public and private sectors, domestically

and internationally, that are interested in investing in or supporting socially driven ventures.
These efforts aim to improve liquidity and strengthen operational performance across the
sector. Registered social enterprises also benefit from regulatory flexibility: OSEP allows them

174 Retail Customers and Government Policy, GSB, n.d. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from
https://www.gsb.or.th/gsb_govs/loan4idpc/
175 SME D Bank commits 5 billion baht to launch ‘SME Speed Up’ loan scheme, gearing up SMEs to seize economic
recovery opportunities, SME Development Bank, n.d. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from
https://www.smebank.co.th/press-release/sme-d-bank-/
176 About Us, Set Social Impact, n.d. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from
https://www.setsocialimpact.com/Article/Detail/51211
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