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In Our 100th Anniversary Year, Reader’s Digest’s 24th Annual Trusted Brands Awards Celebrates The Brands And Personalities Singaporeans Trust The Most
The independently-conducted Trusted Brands survey appears exclusively in the June 2022 issue of the Singapore Reader’s Digest. It was conducted by leading market research company Catalyst Research, who surveyed 8000 individuals across the five key regions of Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan to determine which brands consumers trust most.
Reader’s Digest is among the few brands in the world to have the opportunity to celebrate its 100th year anniversary. As a global brand with 23 editions in 41 countries, Reader’s Digest has published more than 40,000 articles that inform and entertain, and sold more than 10 billion magazine copies. We are proud to celebrate a century of laughter, changing lives, and journalistic excellence.
Trust has been the guiding human emotion we’ve all had to rely on to navigate through the pandemic safely. For the survey winners that has meant getting proactive and reaching out to customers and audiences like never before.
THE PERSONALITIES SINGAPOREANS TRUST THE MOST
Just like previous years, one of the highlights of the 2022 Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands awards is the list of most trusted personalities in the following categories: Most Trusted Radio Presenter; Most Trusted TV Host/Presenter For News & Current Affairs; Most Trusted Variety/ Entertainment Presenter; and Most Trusted Sportsperson.
The personalities that Singaporeans put their trust in most are:
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
Most Trusted Radio Presenter
For more than 35 years, Mark van Cuyenburg, The Flying Dutchman, has entertained, informed and shared experiences across the airwaves with a positive, confident and reassuring manner. As the long-running voice of morning radio and co-host of ONE FM’s #1 Breakfast Show, Mark is widely recognised and admired. His radio roles have set the standard in radio entertainment that generations have come to expect – fun, upbeat and adventurous commentary with a social conscience. The longevity of his service to Singapore makes him an easy winner of the 2022 Most Trusted Radio Presenter.
GLENDA CHONG
TV Host/Presenter For News & Current Affairs
With a career spanning almost 25 years, Glenda Chong is well known for her broadcasting excellence. As anchor and correspondent of Mediacorp’s CNA’s news show, Asia Tonight, she has a loyal following of viewers. Her capacity to present accurate and timely reports across an array of topics – from economics and politics to lifestyle, international relations and even rallying on behalf of environmental causes, such as CAN’s Green Plan campaign – has helped build a wide appeal with viewers and the Singapore public. We’re delighted that Glenda has again been voted the Most Trusted TV Host For News & Current Affairs for 2022.
MICHELLE CHONG
Most Trusted Entertainment/Variety Presenter
Michelle Chong could easily be awarded ‘the most-hard working’ in the entertainment industry. As a celebrated comedian, internationally recognised and awarded film director, YouTuber, actor, industry mentor and entrepreneur, her talents have been recognised for more than 20 years. Michelle’s list of projects is as impressive as her capacity to transform into characters that lift our spirits and raise much-needed laughter. Congratulations on being voted the Most Trusted Entertainment & Variety Presenter for 2022.
JOSEPH SCHOOLING
Most Trusted Sportsperson
Since 2016, Joseph Schooling’s international swimming success has made him the country’s most successful sporting hero. Schooling has now altered his focus to serving his country. In January 3, Schooling commenced his national service, which had been deferred since 2014. “As a son of Singapore, I am honoured to serve my country,” he said. “Without a doubt, I would not have achieved the results I’ve had without deferring my national service.” Trust is built on shared values, reliability and consistency, and for these reasons, Schooling is a well-deserving recipient of the 2022 Most Trusted Sports Personality.
THE BRANDS SINGAPOREANS TRUST THE MOST
The award-winning Trusted Brands that are outlined in the Reader’s Digest 24th annual survey standout among their competitors. During the hardest of times throughout the pandemic, they have continued to build their customers’ trust by consistently responding to their customers’ concerns, by sympathising with their situations and providing the necessary support.
“Any consumer brand that wins the trust of the consumer market has achieved an enviable position – it takes years of careful business planning, execution and nurturing,” says Reader’s Digest Editor-in-Chief, Louise Waterson. “Being able to secure the trust of your customers is an extremely valuable asset, particularly during times of economic and social hardship. Trusted brands live up to their promises and this allows them to enjoy the trust of their customers into the future.”
Brands that have earned the honour to call themselves a Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand have earned the privilege to carry the Trustmark Logo. For consumers, the Trustmark Logo is a trust sign that helps a consumer recognise quality, value and reliability.
Platinum Awards went to those brands that perform exceptionally, based on consumers’ perception. In the poll, these brands attained scores that exceed those of their nearest competitors. Some of the awardees were:
- Cooking Oils – Knife
- Hair Treatment Centres – Yun Nam Hair Care
- Home Furnishing Stores – IKEA
- Family Restaurants – Swensen’s
- Life Insurance – AIA
- Mattress – King Koil
- Paint – Nippon Paint
- Pens– Pilot
- Sugar Substitutes – Equal
- Travel Agents – Chan Brothers Travel
- Washing Machines – Samsung
- Water Purifiers – Novita
Gold Awards went to brands that had outstanding results, based on the perception of consumers. Some of the brands included in this list were:
- Air Conditioners – Daikin
- Air Conditioners – Mitsubishi Electric
- Air Purifiers – Novita
- Beauty/Slimming Centres – Dorra Slimming
- Beauty/Slimming Centres – London Weight Management
- Cooktops & Ranges – ELBA
- Cooking Oils – NTUC FairPrice
- Cooking Oils – OKI
- Life Insurance – Great Eastern
- Mechanical Pencils – Pilot
- Refrigerators – Mitsubishi Electric
- Rice – NTUC FairPrice
- Rice – Royal Umbrella
- Rice – SóngHé
- Skin Care Centres – New York Skin Solutions
- Tea – Dilmah
- Tissue Paper – NTUC FairPrice
- Travel Insurance – AIA
- Washing Machines – LG
About the survey
The survey is an independently commissioned poll, with the results appearing exclusively in Reader’s Digest Singapore. Leading market research agency Catalyst Research surveyed a representative sample of 8000 individuals from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan to determine which brands consumers trust most.
The survey reveals the brands, products and services that consumers believe in, over more than 50 categories.
Media backgrounder – Singapore’s Most Trusted Brands & Most Trusted Personalities
#Reader’sDigest
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Thai Scientists to Develop Monkeypox Test
A Monkeypox test is being developed by a Thai medical center using genetic data provided by Portugal and Belgium.
Laos People’s Court President Visits President of Cuba

Ms. Viengthong Siphandone, President of the People’s Supreme Court of Laos made an official visit to Cuba this month as part of strengthening bilateral relations.
Boten SEZ Struggles to Manage Immigration
The Boten Special Economic Zone is facing difficulties with immigration checks due to a lack of municipal authority and investor restrictions.
ECCIL EuroCham and European Union Delegation Co-organized Lao-Europe Business Networking and Promotion Event
The European Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lao PDR (ECCIL EuroCham) and the European Union Delegation in Lao PDR co-organized the 1st Lao-Europe Business Networking and Promotion Event on Monday at the Crowne Plaza in Vientiane.
Design Spectrum of Hong Kong Design Centre Presents Finale Exhibition: Dream Big Think Small Bridging Virtual and Real Visions from Designers

At the crossroads of imagination and design where creativity comes to awe-inspiring fruition, is a ‘dream’ attainable? Can we go on to pursue every little dream? In this exhibition, public are going to explore myriad creative ideas, with a view to bridging the gap between dream and reality as the world sets out to create a better tomorrow for the next generation.

Four Future Dimensions Expressed in 20+ Works of ‘Dream-related Design’
Today, the realm of design has expanded beyond the physical world to cover the intangible. The idea of dreaming the impossible dream has been given unprecedented depth through Speculative Design, where designers gauge the possibility of the imaginary, giving it substance, and making it part of a society.
Conceived by the curator Michael Leung, the exhibition is divided into four sections, namely ‘Dream Asleep Dream Awake’, ‘Dream Further Dream Closer’, ‘Dream Bigger Dream Smaller’, and ‘Dream Hard Do Harder’, exploring the link between the elusive, multi-faceted world of ‘dream’ and the tangible, practical universe of ‘design’ from an unusual perspective to capture the ripple effect emanated from their collision. Over 20 design projects are featured in the exhibition, envisioned by creative forces from different regions like Hong Kong, UK, Sweden and Denmark, etc., to offer solutions to personal and social issues. They form a narrative of creative thinking that transcends time and space to reach for dreams through design.
Section 1: Dream Asleep Dream Awake
We dream in and out of sleep. Whether it is about brainstem activities at night or visions and aspirations we have for humanity, a dream is the fruit of our creative energy. It is an experience that transcends temporal and spatial boundaries, through which we gain rare insight. In this section, the notion of ‘dream’ is presented as palpable entities in the real world, such as the adventure of Thomas Thwaites from UK, who took one day leave from being human to experience the carefree life of a goat. Visitors can also explore the interplay and gradual convergence of the reality and the digital world through speculative designs that approach the future from personal to social dimensions.
Section 2: Dream Further Dream Closer
Is ‘dream’ a byword for escapism? In this section, some seemingly luxury ‘daydreams’ prove to be attainable in our battle against the pressing and massive human issues like agricultural problems, food shortage, pollution, and others. One noticeable example of making a difference in everyday life is Farm 66’s vertical farming system, with its eye-pleasing space age design combining organic plants and man-made ultraviolet lighting system with mirrors.
Section 3: Dream Bigger Dream Smaller
Dreams know no age bounds – from personal enjoyment to common human good, every dream is worth the design effort to make it come true. In ‘Our Abstract Playscape’, Fan Lok Yi rethinks the community playground. Haw Par Music, a local revitalisation project combining cultural heritage and musical performance, seeks to engage all members of the society in a dreamlike experience of inclusivity in terms of age and expressive form. It sends the message that afterall, anyone can dream anytime.
Section 4: Dream Hard Do Harder
Dreams are not necessarily elusive if we reach out and act on them. Capable designers are those who dare to turn dreams into actions informed by curiosity and a strong vision. This section features tools preferred by home-grown creative forces, such as Kevin Cheung, STICKYLINE, and LeeeeeeToy, in their endeavours to fulfil their wildest dreams. There is also a reading corner with a selection of design reference books, providing readers with food for thought on the trending social-oriented approach Speculative Design that strives to explore creative possibilities in the real world.
DIY Workshops to Capture the Dream-making Experience
The exhibition engages visitors in an interactive experience by sharing the harvests of Farm66’s vertical farming system in Section 2. Visitors are invited to conclude their exploratory journey at two complimentary DIY workshops conceived by upcycling product designer Kevin Cheung and paper art collective STICKYLINE in Section 4. The ‘dream-making’ experience comes to life in these workshops where, for example, participants can create an articulated toy bird out of recycled aluminium cans using the DIY tool kit prepared by Kevin.
Commission Work by Four Local Designers: ‘Garden in the Weird Dream’
‘Dream Big Think Small’ taps on the talents of four local creative forces to envisage two dreamy yet playful gardens through sight, sound, and touch. Woodwork and interior design expert Screw Up Studio, paper art collective STICKYLINE, sound designer and musician Vanissa Law, and fashion designer Cynthia Mak come together for the exhibition to create a dreamscape to give visitors a brief escape from reality. The commission work ‘Garden in the Weird Dream’ will be open to the public for free visit from now to 12 June.
Workshops & Talks to Build/Reach for Dreams Together
On occasion of the ‘Dream Big Think Small’ exhibition, Design Spectrum is also organising a public activities programme for participants to delve deeper into the world of creative sparks. These public activities are the Atypical Garden fabric art workshop, the After Dream workshop using photos and celluloid sheets to create a kaleidoscope, and the Musical Instrument with One (or more) Button(s) workshop blending together essentials
of electronic circuit design and electronic musical instrument making. A conversation series on the topics of philosophy and dreams with guests such as Corrupt the Youth will also open in June.
Meanwhile during the exhibition, an exclusive Design Spectrum x LeeeeeeToy vinyl figure collection “Space Earthly”, alongside works from other participating designers, will be available at DS Shop on the ground floor of 7 Mallory Street. Add them to your favourite collectibles and let them inspire your dreams before they are all gone!
‘Dream Big Think Small’ Exhibition
Date | From now – 17 July 2022 |
Time | 10:00am – 7:00pm (Monday to Sunday) |
Venue | 3/F, 7 Mallory Street, Wan Chai (Free admission with pre-registration required) |
Remarks | 1. DIY Kit is free of charge, details will be announced in due course.
2. Public guided tours are also available on 29 May, 5 June, 26 June, 9 July, 17 July |
For further details and latest updates, please visit: www.designspectrum.hk
*To comply with the current COVID-19 restrictions and ensure the health and safety of all participants, precautionary measures will be adopted in ‘Dream Big Think Small’ exhibition and related activities. The activity schedule is subject to the latest update by the Organiser.
Haikou Tops the Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities China Index
- Haikou comes in first place in the list of first- and second-tier cities after a massive 19-spot jump, ahead of Guangzhou, Xi’an, Shanghai, and Beijing; Chuzhou tops the list of third-tier cities
- The index highlights the fruits of China’s regional economic development – with cities in the country’s Western, North-Eastern, and Greater Bay Area[1] regions dominating top rankings
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 25 May 2022 – Haikou, the provincial capital of China’s Hainan province and an essential point in 21st-century China’s Maritime Silk Road, is China’s best-performing city in 2021, according to the Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities China index.
The city of Haikou – the capital and most populous city of the Hainan province – exemplifies the Chinese government’s efforts to facilitate provincial international free trade and investment in key locations of the country’s One Belt, One Road initiative. This has been driven by greater activity from Hainan’s first socialist system-based free trade port, in addition to several industrial projects across the region.
Following the same developmental vein as Haikou, while coming in second and third place in the Milken Institute’s index for first- and second-tier cities, respectively, are Guangzhou (the capital of Guangdong province) and Xi’an (the capital of China’s central Shaanxi province). Meanwhile, Shanghai and Beijing – two of China’s perennial economic centers – were ranked sixth and eighth, respectively.
“This year’s index highlights the successes China is achieving through its regional development strategy, shifting the burden of economic output away from highly developed regions like the Greater Bay Area,” said Perry Wong, Managing Director of Research at the Milken Institute and author of the report.
“Underlining these milestones have been China’s integration of urban economies nationwide as well the continued expansion and improvement in transportation infrastructure such as high-speed rail – guided by the nation’s Five-Year Plans. Altogether, this year’s top-performing cities reflect China’s strong commitment towards reducing economic disparities between regions for broader-based, long-term growth – which will be vital in reinvigorating its pandemic-stricken economy,” he added.
First- and Second-Tier Cities
The 2021 index also highlights several interesting trends between the first- and second-tier cities:
- Haikou (jumping up 19 spots in the rankings), Shanghai, Wuhan, and Changsha entered the top 10 list for the first time
- Guangdong’s rising economic importance is also shown with two of its cities making the top 5 spots – Shenzhen (fifth place) and Guangzhou (second place), which are also China’s third- and fourth-largest economies, respectively, after Shanghai and Beijing. Guangzhou has particularly benefited from a growing advanced technology economy driven by artificial intelligence applications
- Third-placed Xi’an’s rise reflects the city’s strategic position within the Belt and Road network and status as one of China’s current aerospace industry powerhouses
- Fourth-placed Chengdu has expanded from its reputation as an industrial and manufacturing base for China’s national defence sector to now also being known as an important creative and innovative hub
Rounding up the remaining top 10 positions in the 2021 index are Shanghai (sixth), Wuhan (seventh), Beijing (eighth), Changsha (ninth), and Zhengzhou (tenth).
Third-Tier Cities
The best-performing third-tier city (classified as either a small- or medium-sized city) in this year’s index is Chuzhou, which retained its position within the top 5 for two consecutive years. Bordering the provincial capital of Hefei, Chuzhou’s economic rise has been influenced by its geographic advantage – which the city is leveraging by closely integrating itself into the Nanjing Urban Agglomeration, located along the Yangtze River delta. Coming in at second, third, fourth, and fifth are Fuyuan, Dongguan, Jiaxing, and Xuancheng, followed by Zhuhai (sixth), Ji’an (seventh), Bozhou (eighth), Lijiang (ninth), and Maanshan (tenth).
This 2021 index for third-tier Chinese cities also showcased multiple notable trends:
- Chuzhou, Xuancheng, and Dongguan retained their position in the top 10 from the 2020 index
- Heyuan – the best performing third-tier city in 2020 – fell out of the list and all the way down to 92nd
- Five of the top 10 cities in 2021 are all located within the Anhui province (Chuzhou, Fuyang, Xuancheng, Bozhou, and Ma’anshan). Fuyang, in particular, moved up 19 positions to clinch second place
“China’s comprehensive nationwide development strategy is continuing to bear fruit, as reflected in the performances of its third-tier cities. While the 2021 index shows that only a handful of cities have had staying power, the shifting positions also highlight that thriving economic activity is now happening across the board. This means that the country’s third-tier cities are also being leveraged as economic fulcrums – as much as their larger peers – and will continue to be relied upon to help the country collectively respond to both internal and external pressures such as the COVID-19 crisis and geopolitical tensions,” said Yeen Chong, Communications Lead at the Milken Institute Asia Center.
To download the full report of the Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities China 2021 Index, visit the link here. For more information, please click HERE.
Methodology
The 2021 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities China Index divides 238 Chinese cities into two groups, one for first- and second-tier cities and one for third-tier cities. The first- and second-tier group comprises 33 cities, while the third-tier group is made up of 205 cities. The two groups are ranked separately based on economic performance, with an emphasis on growth measurements. Its ranking index for this 2021 version comprises nine indicators— one-year (2018–2019) and five-year (2014–2019) periods growth for jobs, wages, and gross regional product (GRP) per capita; three-year (2016–2019) foreign direct investment (FDI) growth; FDI/GRP ratio (2019); and the location quotient (LQ) for high value-added industry employment (2019). This index categorises Chinese cities into large and small groups to yield more meaningful comparisons and insights.
About the Best Performing Cities China Index
The Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities (BPC) China Index analyses the latest and most comprehensive official data found in the China City Statistical Yearbook to track the recent economic performance of Chinese cities. The primary purpose of this series is to offer a tool to policymakers to monitor and evaluate the economic dynamics of cities in China and improve their performance. In addition, this work provides businesses with insight into economic trends to explore potential investment opportunities in China.
Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities China Ranking
Rank | First- and second-tier cities | Rank | Third-tier cities |
1 | Haikou, Hainan (海南省, 海口市) | 1 | Chuzhou, Anhui (安徽省, 滁州市) |
2 | Guangzhou, Guangdong (广东省, 广州市) | 2 | Fuyang, Anhui (安徽省, 阜阳市) |
3 | Xi’an, Shaanxi (陕西省, 西安市) | 3 | Dongguan, Guangdong (广东省, 东莞市) |
4 | Chengdu, Sichuan (四川省, 成都市) | 4 | Jiaxing, Zhejiang (浙江省, 嘉兴市) |
5 | Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东省, 深圳市) | 5 | Xuancheng, Anhui (安徽省, 宣城市) |
6 | Shanghai (上海市) | 6 | Zhuhai, Guangdong (广东省, 珠海市) |
7 | Wuhan, Hubei (湖北省, 武汉市) | 7 | Ji’an, Jiangxi (江西省, 吉安市) |
8 | Beijing (北京市) | 8 | Bozhou, Anhui (安徽省, 亳州市) |
9 | Changsha, Hunan (湖南省, 长沙市) | 9 | Lijiang, Yunnan (云南省, 丽江市) |
10 | Zhengzhou, Henan (河南省, 郑州市) | 10 | Maanshan, Anhui (安徽省, 马鞍山市) |
About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that helps people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/.
About the Milken Institute Asia Center
The Milken Institute Asia Center extends the reach and impact of Milken Institute programs, events, and research to the Asia-Pacific region. We identify opportunities to leverage the Institute’s global network to tackle regional challenges, as well as to integrate the region’s perspectives into the development of solutions to persistent global challenges.
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.