The cabinet meeting on Tuesday 1, March 2011 has come to the following decision:
The Cabinet has endorsed the Draft Ministerial Regulation on Rules and Guidelines Pertaining to the Request and Approval of License Registration for Maritime Transport and Shipyard Operators B.E. … and the Draft Ministerial Regulation on the Specification of Other Activities Directly Related or Are Components of Commercial Maritime Operations B.E. … The Council of State had previously scrutinized the two draft ministerial regulations proposed by the Ministry of Transport.
The Cabinet has approved in principle the operational plan to develop potential tourist attractions in Thailand and has designated the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (Department of Tourism) as the lead agency in implementing the operational plan and coordinating the integration of relevant works of other public agencies. The Cabinet added that Ministry of Tourism and Sports shall take into consideration and act upon the recommendations made by the Ministry of Transport and National Economic and Social Development Board. The Ministry of Sports shall coordinate closely with the Bureau of the Budget regarding budgetary matters.
The Cabinet has acknowledged and given its approval to the following matters proposed by the Ministry of Finance:
1. Clarification on the use of the Development Policy Loan (DPL)
2. Extension of contract and budget disbursement period of Thai Khem Khaeng projects for fiscal year B.E. 2555 (2012).
3. Improvement of operational plan for the Cooperative Promotion Department’s (CPD) Baht 300 million projects under the Thai Khem Khaeng (“Thailand: Investing from Strength to Strength”) scheme B.E. 2555 (2012). The objective of the projects is to improve the manufacturing capabilities and marketing strategies of three diary cooperatives under its auspices. The department is also considering ways to privatize these diary cooperatives.
4. In accordance with the Prime Minister’s Office Regulation on Management of Projects under the Thai Khem Khaeng scheme B.E. 2555 (2012), the Office of the Basic Education Commission under the Ministry of Education will be allocated a reserve expenditure budget of Baht 53,894,261.
5. Debt obligation prior to approval of budget allocation for the Thai Khem Khaeng project on developing the potential of tourism goods and services in Pattani province.
6. Cancellation of the Baht 9,473,300 Thai Khem Khaeng project on promotion of plantation of superior breed rubber seedlings on 5000 vacant plots in the southern-border provinces of Thailand.
7. Changes to details of projects under Thai Khem Khaeng scheme B.E. 2555 (2012) will have to first be approved by the Cabinet. Within 15 days after receiving the Cabinet’s approval, the relevant agency will submit its revised operational and budget plans to the Bureau of the Budget for its consideration. The Bureau of Budget will take no longer than 15 days to consider and approve the amendments, following which the relevant agency will be required to sign the contract within the next 15 working days.
8. Changes to the operational and budget plans for Thai Khem Khaeng project on construction of Highway No. 4169 in Samui island, Surat Thani province. The implementation period for the Baht 450 million project will be extended from B.E. 2554 — 2555 (2011 — 2012) to B.E. 2554 — 2556 (2011 — 2013). The implementing agency will adopt and implement Option 2 as proposed by the Screening and Management Committee for Projects Under the Thai Khem Khaeng Scheme B.E. 2555 (2012): In conformity to the Emergency Decree Empowering the Ministry of Finance to Borrow for Economics Rehabilitation and Stability, B.E. 2552 (2009), all relevant public agencies are to complete their Thai Khem Khaeng projects by 28 February B.E. 2556 (2013) while reimbursement for all project expenditure must be made within two months after project completion. The Cabinet has further instructed the Ministry of Finance to carefully consider the recommendations made by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board.
The Cabinet has endorsed the following issues proposed by the Ministry of Finance (MOF):
1. MOF has proposed the government provide financial support of up to Baht 1 billion to Thai construction companies doing business in overseas markets. The Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM) will coordinate with the Bureau of the Budget regarding the appropriation of the allocated support budget.
2. The Cabinet has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to include the new government measure as a discussion agenda in high-level meetings between the Thai leader and his foreign counterparts or in other relevant multi-lateral negotiation arena.
The Cabinet has given its approval in principle to the following matters proposed by the Ministry of Industry:
1. The Construction Institute of Thailand will be established as a foundation and will be affiliated as a member of the Ministry of Industry’s network.
2. The institute will be entitled to receive government financial support in the amount not exceeding Baht 496 million for the first four years of its establishment (2012-2015) until it is able to gain financial independence. The Ministry of Industry will be the key agency to facilitate the institute’s budget requests.
3. The Construction Institute of Thailand will also receive government assistance in terms of its search for operating venue, manpower, and equipment for the first your years of its establishment. Additional Urgent Projects to Resolve Problems in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and Neighboring Areas in Rayong Province. The Cabinet has given its approval to additional urgent projects aimed at resolving problems in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and neighboring areas in Rayong province. Approval has also been given to the requests to increase the budget allocation of Baht 269.50 million to nine such projects. The Secretariat of the Prime Minister proposed that requesting agencies directly submit the project details for the additional allocation to the Bureau of the Budget.
The Cabinet has endorsed the following proposals presented by the Ministry of Commerce:
1. The bi-lateral trade agreement between Thailand and Indonesia.
2. The bi-lateral trade agreement will be presented to Parliament for its review and approval in accordance with Article 190 (2) of the 2007 Thai Constitution.
3. The Minister of Commerce may exercise his/her discretion in the event that minor changes are to be made to the bi-lateral trade agreement following its approval by Parliament.
4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will prepare the instrument of Full Powers to enable the Minister of Commerce to be the official Thai signatory of the bi-lateral agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will officially inform its Indonesian counterpart following the signing of the bi-lateral trade agreement. Request for Additional Budget Allocation to Cover Costs of Repatriation of Affected Thai Citizens in Libya The Cabinet has approved in principle the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s request for additional budget allocation to cover the costs arising from the repatriation of Thai citizens in Libya and has instructed the ministry to coordinate closely with the Bureau of the Budget regarding the reimbursement of its actual expenses.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has evaluated that the political uncertainty in Libya has affected the safety and wellbeing of 25,000 Thai citizens currently residing there. It is therefore working closely with the Ministry of Labor to send all affected Thai citizens to neighboring countries before repatriating them back to Thailand at the earliest possibility. MoFA has reported the following to the Cabinet:
1. MoFA has instructed its officials at the ministry and those stationed at neighboring countries of Libya to set up temporary shelters in Tunisia, Egypt and Southern Libya to accommodate Thai citizens affected by the ongoing political crisis in Libya. Furthermore, MoFA officials in European and North African countries have been instructed to provide assistance to affected Thais who have traveled to their respective areas of jurisdiction.
2. MoFA has chartered an Italian freight vessel capable of holding 2000 passengers to ferry affected Thai citizens in Tripoli to neighboring countries including Tunisia and Italy. The vessel will also deliver dried food products to Thais in Libya. The ministry is also coordinating with Thai Airways Public Company Limited and other private airliners to repatriate affected Thai citizens to Thailand.
3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has incurred the following expenses while carrying out the stated activities in points 1 and 2. They include the sending of Thai officials to perform the stated tasks, chartering of a freight vessel and planes, setting up of temporary shelters in various locations, provision of accommodation, food and transportation for affected Thais citizens, repatriating of affected Thai citizens who had previously evacuated to other countries other than those specified in point 2, as well as other relevant activities.
4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that its existing budget earmarked for emergency relief for overseas Thai citizens is insufficient to cover all the expenses stated in point 3 and for the remaining period of the B.E. 2554 (2011) fiscal year (February — September 2011). Therefore, the ministry would like to make an additional request for budget allocation for the ministry’s emergency and relief activities for fiscal year B.E. 2554 (2011).
--Cabinet Meeting (Abhisit Vejjajiva) March 1, 2011--