Thailand’s gas prices fuelling inflation
Thai consumers are beginning to feel the effects of the government’s decision to liberalise compressed natural gas (CNG) prices with the aim of bringing retail costs in line with the global market and potentially freeing up government funds for use in other sectors.
Green building takes off in Southeast Asia
In subtropical South-east Asian climates, where air conditioning accounts for about 50% of a building’s energy use and up to 30% of operating costs, energy efficiency requires keeping cold air inside and hot air out. Some sector participants estimate that improvements to the “building envelope” – insulation materials to prevent cold air from escaping, glazed windows to reduce heat entry, efficient chillers and a temperature control system – can reduce the energy required to cool a building by 50-80%.
Thailand to improve agriculture quality and sustainability
The agriculture sector accounted for more than 11% of GDP in 2009, the last year for which statistics were available. Thailand is a major exporter of a number of food products; it was the world’s top exporter of rice in 2009 and was set to reach a record sugar yield in 2010-11, with production predicted to climb as high as 9.47m tonnes between November 2010 and November 2011.
