He said the Securities and Exchange Commission had finalised the regulation to issue the fund two weeks |ago and forwarded it to the Royal Gazette for announcement.

After the announcement, the Finance Ministry will appoint an asset-management firm to set up the fund and also appoint a financial adviser to study which assets can be issued to raise money for the fund.

“Our target for the fund is Bt100 billion, but the first phase may be between Bt30 billion and Bt50 billion. This depends on the assets,” he said. He added that the Thailand Future Fund would reduce the cost of the public debt by allowing state-owned agencies to raise capital by themselves.

“The first priority for assets issued for the fund is that they have to generate enough return for the investors, as this will be guaranteed. The guaranteed return on investment [ROI] is under study, but it should be at least 3 per cent. However, we also are considering whether or not to set a ceiling for the ROI,” he said.

Motorway 7 from Bangkok to Chon Buri province and Motorway 9 from Bang Pa-in to Bang Phli are now generating enough income to support issuing the fund, he |said. Ekniti believes that the Thailand Future Fund will launch this year.