ASEAN MEDIA

VNA February 18， 2022

Vietnam Has Highest Gold Demand in Southeast AsiaVietnam has the highest demand for gold in Southeast Asia， Andrew Naylor， Regional CEO， Asia-Pacific （excluding China） and Public Policy of the World Gold Council， said during a recent virtual workshop on the Vietnamese gold market.

The demand for the precious metal in Vietnam amounted to 43 tonnes in 2021， posting a year-on-year rise of 8 percent. Of the figure， jewelry accounted for 12 tonnes， up 11 percent; and gold bar and coin 31.1 tonnes， a slight increase from the previous year.

A recent survey showed that 72 percent of Vietnamese consumers believe that gold is a safe asset and they will continue to invest in it in the coming times.

Naylor said global gold demand expanded 10 percent in 2021， and gold bar and coin surged 31 percent in the past eight years.

The Strait Times February 21， 2022

Thai Economy Returns to Growth in Q4 on Tourism， Outlook Maintained

Thailand’s economy returned to growth in the fourth quarter， rebounding more quickly than expected， on robust exports and a recovery in domestic activity following an easing of Covid-19 curbs and as borders reopened to foreign visitors.

In 2021， Thailand’s economy grew 1.6 percent， one of the slowest in Southeast Asia， after a 6.1 percent contraction in 2020.

The government maintained its economic growth outlook at 3.5 percent-4.5 percent， counting on a limited impact from the Omicron-driven coronavirus outbreak， stronger domestic demand， a recovery in tourism and continued support from exports and public investment.

The economy is likely to perform well in the first quarter of this year， based on indicators so far， but there is some inflationary pressure， DanuchaPichayanan， chief of Thailand National Economic and Social Development Council told a news conference.

The Jakarta Post February 11， 2022

Coca-Cola， Criticized for Plastic Pollution， Pledges 25% Reusable Packaging

The Coca-Cola Company said on February 10 it will aim for 25 percent of its packaging globally to be reusable by 2030， a move hailed by environmental groups who have called out the soft-drink maker for worldwide plastic pollution. The company was the world’s worst plastic polluter for the fourth year in a row in 2021， according to the global coalition Break Free From Plastic’s annual report released in October.

Reusable packaging includes containers that can be refilled with original product by companies or consumers， such as refillable fountain drink containers and glass and plastic bottles that are refillable or returnable， the cola maker said， referring to reuse guidelines by nonprofit Ellen MacArthur Foundation. In 2020， 16 percent of the company’s packaging was reusable.

The Star March 21， 2022

China Willing to Meet

CPTPP Standards

China has been communicating and negotiating with the members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership， or CPTPP， and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.

Wang Wentao， the country’s commerce minister， told a news briefing in Beijing on March 1 that China is willing to negotiate and sign free trade agreements with more economies and countries.

China’s official applications to join the CPTPP and the DEPA last year have demonstrated the nation’s determination to deepen reforms and expand opening-up， while also showing its sincere willingness to strengthen cooperation in international digital economy， and promote innovation and sustainable development， he said.