Circular economy concept promoted in Thailand

SAMUT PRAKAN, THAILAND, June 12 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Industry, is promoting the concept of the "circular economy" among business operators, aimed at maximizing the use of mineral and metal resources in the country. Deputy Permament Secretary for Industry Apichin Jotikasthira spoke of the policy while opening the "Innovation in Raw Materials Conference 2019: Circular Economy" on Wednesday, organized by his ministry's Department of Primary Industries and Mines at its Recycling Technology Research and Development Center in Phra Pradaeng area of Bangkok's neighboring Samut Prakan Province. Apichin suggested that business operators whose firms are in the domestic continuous production industrial sector and need to acquire mineral and metal raw materials pay attention to and adjust themselves towards the circular economy. "Under the circular economy, modern technologies and innovations are applied to production processes of relevant businesses, but the environmental conservation is also taken into account", the senior official explained. The senior official acknowledged that the circular economy concept not only enhances corporate values of relevant businesses, but also shows their responsibility to the Thai society. According to the senior official, the circular economy concept, which is being promoted by his ministry in line with the government's policy, is in response to the increasing problems of natural resource shortages and mounting garbage in Thailand, as high as over 50 million tons yearly. (TNA)