Talking to newspersons here, he said the formal inauguration of the exchange would be held before July 15. At present, 300 people could trade in the exchange through the screen-based trading system.

He said the Thiruvananthapuram exchange was the second after the Coimbatore exchange, to be granted recognition by the Sebi since 1991. The exchange, established in 1990, got recognition after a long and protracted legal battle.

He said now the exchange had a strength of 248 members and the Sebi had given permission to admit more 52 members. Twenty five companies had already expressed their willingness to list in the exchange.

Modern technical facilities for trading directly with the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange would be provided in the new exchange.Arrangements would also be made with the Inter Connected Stock Exchange which was the network of regional stock exchanges.

Thomas said an investor centre would be started for the benefit of investors. They could also make use of the facilities such as technical guidance, data bank and library.

He said the surveillance system and transparency in trading adopted by the Sebi had made the dealings in share market flawless. He said the exchange had spent Rs 1.25 crore for computerisation. The Thiruvananthapuram exchange had one of the most modern and the most economic computer systems in the country.