The cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 7 February 2012 has come to the following decision:
?The cabinet acknowledged in principle of the draft decree on Sports Authority of Thailand (No…) B.E…. according to the proposal from Ministry of Tourism & Sports. The cabinet also directed that the draft decree must be passed to Office of the Council of State for further consideration and then to the House of Representatives Whip. Finally, the draft decree will be presented to the House of Representative.
To establish land reform areas in Mae Salong Nai subdistrict, Mae Fahluang district, and Sri Kam subdistrict, Paa Sang subdistrict, Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai according to the map attached with the draft decree.
?The cabinet approved Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board’s proposal. As follows:
1. To appoint Thailand Creative Economy Agency under the Secretariat of the Prime Minister to be an integrated agency working on creative economy in a single management. Its objectives include policies, strategies and plans direction, research & development, as well as creative economy fund management. It aims to develop Thai economy in a more united and effective way.
2. To approve the transfer of Creative Economy Fund from the National Economic and Social Development Board to Thailand Creative Economy Agency and The Secretariat of the Prime Minister.
3. To terminate the Prime Minister’s Office regulation on creative national economic policy driving mechanism B.E. 2553 and the Prime Minister’s Office regulation on creative economy fund B.E. 2554. The cabinet also assigned the Secretariat of the Prime Minister to prepare a new Prime Minister’s Office regulation fitting with an integrated structure of a creative economic policy driving mechanism.
4. To appoint the Secretariat of the Prime Minister to cooperate with sectors involved to manage resources and organizational structure so as to enhance Thailand Creative Economy Agency capacity as an integrated creative economy agency of the country.
The cabinet acknowledged a division of canal dredging under an integration of responsibility between BMA and 9 ministries with an aim to empower the capacity of water management in Bangkok areas. Concerning additional budget for canal dredging, the cabinet assigned Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management to further consider the issue. The cabinet also appointed the Secretary-General of the Public Sector Development Commission as a committee and secretary of Committee on Flood Relief Management Operation Center to cooperate with Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management, follow the progress of the work so as to enhance the capacity of water management in Bangkok areas, and report the Prime Minister periodically.
?Gist of the meeting on water management capacity empowerment in Bangkok areas can be concluded that the government will cooperate with BMA to prevent the future flood by providing assistance in terms of canal dredging, watergate fixing, water pump designing and installing, alarming system connecting, as well as plans and tools warehouse establishing. ?The division of canal dredging in Bangkok areas is based on the principle that the government appoints a capable ministry to help the BMA. There are 43 canals 48 lists waiting for dredging under the integration of responsibility between BMA and 9 ministries, as follows:
1. Main canal dredging: 29 canals 29 lists such as 1). BMA is responsible for 19 canals. 2). Ministry of Defense is responsible for 5 canals. 3). Ministry of Interior is responsible for 1 canal. 4). Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is responsible for 1 canal. 5). Ministry of Public Health is responsible for 2 canals. 6). Ministry of Labor is responsible for 1 canal. To implement canal dredging, the BMA is responsible for transferring budget to governmental agencies.
2. Additional canal dredging: 14 canals and extension of canal dredging length: 5 canals; total 19 lists such as 1). Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for 2 canals. 2). Ministry of Defense is responsible for 10 canals. 3). Ministry of Interior is responsible for 1 canal. 4). Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for 2 canals. 5). Ministry of Transport is responsible for 1 canal. 6). Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is responsible for 3 canals.
?The cabinet approved a proposal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as follows:
1. To appoint the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be the main organization working on canvassing and the National Committee on Canvassing which consists of representatives from all sectors involved. This committee serves as the prime mechanism to outline strategies and plans used in canvassing as well as the mechanism for cooperation during the canvassing. Minister of Foreign Affairs chairs the committee.
2. To set World Expo chairmanship 2020 as a national issue. The cabinet appointed a suitable deputy Prime Minister to organize meetings among sectors involved such as Ministry of Commerce, the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transport, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, etc. in order to establish mechanisms and main agencies to implement this national issue. To achieve the goal, strategies and preparatory plans reinforced both in Ayutthaya and other parts are needed with an aim to integrate and unite governmental sector and private sector.
Therefore, Thailand will be perfectly ready in every dimension to host the World Expo 2020. Gist, as follows:
1. On May 16, 2011, Thai government officially presented a bid for World Expo 2020 chairmanship. Currently, there are 5 states which officially submitted a bid for World Expo 2020 such as Thailand (Ayutthaya), Turkey (Izmir), Russian Federation (Ekaterinburg), Brazil (Sao Paulo), and United Arab Emirates (Dubai). Election will be held at the end of 2013.
2. The winner state must gain a majority vote from Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) which comprises 157 states. Therefore, Thailand needs to be well prepared immediately since the canvassing is limited from 2012-2013. Moreover, Thailand needs to present the progress of preparation for chairmanship to BIE twice in 2012, and once or twice in 2013.
3. Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce which is the main agency to take responsible for World Expo and represented Thailand in BIE assembly informed that international negotiation might be needed in order to gain supports. Therefore, it requested Ministry of Foreign Affairs to head the Working Group on International Support and to volunteer to host World Expo 2020. Concerning this request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that it has already acknowledged it in principle.
4. On November 23, 2011, there was 150th BIE General Assembly at Paris. All 5 candidate states had to present their projects to the General Assembly. For Thailand, Mr. Akkrapol Sarasuchat, director of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau headed the team; he emphasized on a long-time and continuous participation of Thailand in World Expo over 140 years, and presented Thailand’s theme namely “Redefine Globalization: Balanced Life, Sustainable Living” which reflects a necessity to reconsider globalization in order to balance sustainability of the society.
5. It is necessary to conduct a canvass in various levels including the establishment of strategies and policies for joint canvassing with sectors involved. Moreover, World Expo 2020 chairmanship needs to be supported by the government’s direct and accurate policy. 6. Bid for World Expo 2020 chairmanship and canvassing do not get involved with international agreement deal. Therefore, there are no points related to article 190 of Thai constitution.
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) February 7, 2012--