There are likely only a scant few Hongkongers who, office-bound on a rainy afternoon, have not daydreamed their way to the bustle of Bangkok, the culturally rich north or the idyllic palm-fringed beaches that frame the Land of Smiles.

With parent Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), SCB Securities (SCBS) has unlocked vast potential in the Thai capital market by making equities trading convenient and accessible through digital channels. The firm has doubled its trading volume from online transactions of high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors in this year's first half alone. The astounding market response signals the growing appetite for equities, which SCBS promptly serviced through a regional trading platform launched in July and will be enhanced by a global trading platform estimated to go live later this year.

While continuing to build up its portfolio of fixed-income funds, Thailand's SCB Asset Management (SCBAM) has ventured into offering equity and foreign investment funds.

Vehicle makers are increasingly using Thailand as a manufacturing hub, bringing credence to the label, "Detroit of the East". Somboon Advance Technology (SAT), a Thai pioneer, is well-positioned to benefit from the flourishing automotive industry, which is backed by a rising middle class and the government's car buyer programme that offers tax rebates to first-time buyers.

Global in scope yet replete with local knowledge, United Overseas Bank (Thai) possesses the best qualities of the international and domestic banking worlds. A subsidiary of United Overseas Bank (UOB), UOB (Thai) has leveraged its parent's pan-regional network and strong foothold in Southeast Asia to operate as a fully fledged local bank with offshore banking services. This "hybrid" quality sets UOB (Thai) apart from other institutions in the country.

Guided by the principle that a bank should be a custodian business imbued with social responsibility, Peter Foo, the president and CEO of United Overseas Bank (Thai), has set himself apart as a banker. With a constant drive to do the right things in the right way, Foo believes that all aspects of banking, including ingenuity and innovation in finance, should be governed by the highest standards of business practice.

Thai investors aiming to diversify abroad and foreign financial institutions looking to the Thai market find a bridge in Krung Thai Asset Management (KTAM). Managing US$15.5 billion in assets, KTAM is the country's third-largest asset management company in terms of market share - and No 1 when it comes to achieving relatively high growth rates in the past few years.

As Thailand prepares to boost trade with fellow emerging markets under the Asean Economic Community by 2015, Country Group Securities (CGS) -Thailand's No 2 brokerage firm - is set to become the region's investment gateway with its full range of financial advisory services.

When providing protection to the world's hospitals, only the highest quality will do. Family-owned company Thai Hospital Products (THP) is taking its complete range of disposable protective apparel deeper into the region, after almost 20 years of producing face masks, surgical caps and gowns for global markets.

International upscale Swiss hotel management company Movenpick Hotels & Resorts welcomes hotel owners and developers as it embarks on its most aggressive expansion yet across Asia, especially China.

Growing alongside its customers and the nation, Bangkok Bank has been an integral part of Thailand's economy for almost 70 years. Thailand's biggest bank is increasingly making its mark beyond its national borders, taking advantage of the burgeoning opportunities offered by accelerating regional integration, with a major focus on the mainland and Hong Kong.

One man's dream has kept Thailand clean and green. Suwat Luengviriya realised his lifelong wish for a better world and greener environment when he founded Better World Green (BWG) 16 years ago. The company introduced the concept of sustainable industrial waste management in Thailand, which earned it a gold medal from the Department of Industrial Works. Through the years, BWG has grown to become the country's only provider of integrated industrial waste management, covering the whole value chain from counselling and waste analysis to transport and disposal.

More than 30 years of engineering experience in 84 countries enables LV Technology (LVT) to drive entire national cement industries. Working at a proficiency level reached by only nine other companies in the world, LVT modifies a cement plant's existing equipment to enhance operational efficiency and maximise production.

The three-storey building at 300 Romklao Road in Bangkok is anything but ordinary. The headquarters of Thailand's leading design and build company Ritta, it is the country's first green building certified gold under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for new construction. Double glass walls allow natural air cooling, while an automatic irrigation system based on soil moisture data cuts landscape water use by half. Designed by wholly owned subsidiary Thai Global Energy (TGE), the project marks Ritta's success in the green building field.

Highly professional company TISCO Asset Management (TISCOASSET) has more than 20 years of experience in fund management. While its competitors focus on fixed-income products, TISCOASSET fills the gap in client demands by specialising in high-risk areas, penetrating niche market segments to differentiate itself from other asset management firms.

From selecting raw supplies to creating top-calibre construction materials, Diamond Building Products adheres to strict quality management every step of the way, providing quick delivery and excellent after-sales services for total customer satisfaction.

Fulfilling its mandate to uplift Isan, Thailand's northeastern region and the nation's poorest, has led Khon Kaen University (KKU) to groundbreaking research in agriculture, tropical diseases and basic education - all sources of global distinction for the northeastern region's largest university. Approaching its 50th anniversary, KKU is emerging as the educational centre of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and positioned strongly for Asean's economic integration.

Asian countries are abuzz with preparations to meet the 2015 economic integration deadline of the Asean Economic Community (AEC). Thailand, in particular, has established a comprehensive platform to lay the groundwork for regional co-operation. MFEC, one of the largest information technology (IT) service providers in Thailand, is among the most active players armed with a comprehensive portfolio to capture upcoming growth opportunities in the region.

Mechanical construction is the heart and soul of any plant. Embodying this philosophy has catapulted Sriracha Construction, once a small home-grown contractor, to one of Thailand's leading builders.

Addressing the specific requirements of businesses entering Thailand and the Asean, WHA Corporation delivers its expertise in built-to-suit projects.

Advanced battery charging technology has the potential to take solar energy to widespread use among homes and electric vehicles throughout Southeast Asia. Solartron, which is vigorously expanding solar power generation in Thailand, plans to spread its advanced technology by taking advantage of regional integration in Asean by 2015.

Sala, a Thai word that means a place of rest, is in essence what SALA Hospitality Group provides to anyone who sets foot in its intimate and luxurious accommodations located in some of Thailand's most popular travel destinations. The home-grown hospitality firm has established an independent chain of hotels known for its pool villas and suites operating under the trademarks SALA Resorts & Spas and sala boutique. Barely a decade old, SALA has become a trusted brand offering first-class yet affordable guest services.

Creating a presence in the premium luxury segment of the glassware industry is no small feat. With a strategy anchored on quality, innovation and operational excellence, Ocean Glass is ready to take on long-standing European brands with its luxury crystal stemware, Lucaris.

Plastic bags are indispensable for processing, storing, transporting and disposing of a variety of goods. Taking an active stance to source out alternatives to conventional plastics and promote Thailand as a bioplastic hub, Multibax manufactures cost-efficient biodegradable products using local plant-based resources.

As one of the first engineering consulting companies in Thailand, SEATEC, along with its affiliates, has been working with the Thai government, private companies and international institutions since its foundation in 1969.

Local insight, a robust product portfolio and successful collaborations with top brokers in the region have made Finansia Syrus Securities one of Thailand's leading stockbrokerage companies.

With four decades of experience, five manufacturing sites and more than 1,500 employees, DSG International (DSGIL) is firmly established in Asia.