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impacts, helping us to achieve ongoing, sustainable business viability.” 185 This three-
dimensional reporting framework has remained in use ever since.

Kasikornbank has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) since 2016, in
both the DJSI World and DJSI Emerging Markets categories. It was also selected for inclusion in

the FTSE4Good Emerging Index, making it the first bank in Thailand and in the ASEAN region to
be listed in these global sustainability benchmark indices. In the same year, the bank’s
sustainability development report explicitly stated that it had adopted the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) as a guiding framework for its operations, effectively incorporating
the SDGs from the very first year they were officially launched by the United Nations. Starting
in 2020, content related to sustainability initiatives has been presented specifically in the bank’s
sustainability development report, while the annual report has focused primarily on the bank’s
financial and operational performance. From 2021 onward, the concepts of Environmental,

Social, and Governance (ESG) have played an increasingly prominent role in the sustainability
development reporting process.

“Supporting New Entrepreneurs to Dream Beyond Limits” Project (K-SME Start-up Solutions)

Kasikornbank developed the K-SME Start-up Solutions service to provide comprehensive
support, both financial and knowledge-based, for start-up businesses. The “Supporting New
Entrepreneurs to Dream Beyond Limits” project is an ongoing initiative launched in
collaboration with the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) and Mahidol University. Its aim
is to provide sufficient funding for SME entrepreneurs at special interest rates, thereby lowering
barriers to accessing capital. The project also offers in-depth knowledge essential to launching

and sustaining a successful business. In this initiative, TCG acts as a guarantor by backing the
credit portfolio of participating SMEs, while Mahidol University is responsible for organizing in-
depth training programs for new entrepreneurs. This ensures that entrepreneurs can utilize the
funds effectively and operate competitively in the market. In 2012, over 70,000 participants
joined the project, and two training cohorts were held.

185 Kasikornbank Sustainability Development Report 2013, page 3
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