Briefs

The National Savings Fund is targeting 600,000 members by the end of this year, said its secretary-general, Somporn Chitphentom.
He said the fund got a good response on its launch day at more than 3,000 branches of Government Savings Bank, Krungthai Bank and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.
Of those signing up, about 53 per cent were aged 30-50, followed by those aged over 50 at 44 per cent.
“From the beginning of next month, we will go to meet people at their homes, in temples and schools in the provinces, and publicise the NSF savings channels. We believe the number of NSF members will reach 600,000 by the end of this year, 1.5 million next year and 3 million within five years,” he said.
In the initial stage, about 80 per cent of the NSF proceeds will be invested in no-risk financial instruments, while the remainder will be put in low-risk instruments. Once the NSF has sufficient money to take risk, around Bt10 billion, it will appoint a fund manager, he said.
NSF members receive matching contributions from the government that increase with age. The government matches 50 per cent of savings, up to a maximum Bt600 a year, for workers not covered by a provident or pension fund aged 15-30; 80 per cent of savings, up to a maximum of Bt960 a year, for those aged 30-50; and 100 per cent, up to Bt1,200 a year, for people aged 50-60.

EVENTS POSTPONED
The European Association for Business and Commerce (EABC) said it had postponed a press conference on “EABC 2015 Business Confidence Survey Launch” set for next Wednesday at Sofitel Sukhumvit Hotel because of the recent bombing incident at Ratchaprasong. The event will be rescheduled to late September, tentatively Friday, September 25, at the same venue.
Meanwhile, after Hong Kong issued a red travel warning, the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) said its Southeast Asia roadshow – Bangkok Exhibition Opening & Luncheon – would be postponed until further notice. The GTEF had earlier invited media to attend the opening ceremony of “Riding the Wave of Cultural Tourism” exhibition at Siam Center next Thursday.
Supported by premium resort MGM Macau and well-known property developer Siam Piwat Co, the exhibition was to be held from August 27-30, as part of the forum’s international promotion of its fourth edition to be held at The Venetian Macao from October 12-14 under the theme “Belt and Road Initiative – Unleashing the New Dynamics of Cultural Tourism”.