The cabinet acknowledged a report on the Government’s important policy, and relief of flood-affected industries submitted by the Ministry of Industry. Gist as follows:
1) Assistance to people affected from the higher cost of livings
Ministry of Industry organized 4 outlet fairs “Consumer Products Right from the Factories” in Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, and Prajuab Kirikhan during the fiscal year 2012.
2) Rehabilitation of 7 industrial estates, industrial zones, and industrial parks that were hit by flood in the areas of Ayuthaya and Pathum Thani provinces.
3) Rehabilitation of large-scaled factories and SMEs that were hit by flood but are located outside of the industrial estates.
4) Assistance to flood-hit industrial sector
The budget of 706.7502 million Baht were allocated for 8 projects by the Ministry of Industry for relief of flood-affected industries.
5) Investment promotion measures
Ministry of Industry has provided following measures of assistance to flood-affected entrepreneurs:
5.1 privileges provision or exemption of taxes, duties, and charges
5.2 special approval of visa and work permits for foreign employments
5.3 approval of temporary export and/or relocation of machineries and raw materials
5.4 field visits
6) Progress on construction of six flood barriers for industrial estates, industrial zones, and industrial parks
The cabinet acknowledged and approved the following matters as proposed by Ministry of Finance:
1. Acknowledged in principle letter of exchange between the Government of Thailand and Japan, and special privileges for the staff of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) as stated in the aforementioned letter of exchange.
2. Approved for Finance Minister or a person authorized by the Finance Minister to sign on the aforementioned letter of exchange.
Gist is as follows:
1. As of April 1, 2012, Division of International Financial Operations of Japan Finance Corporation (JFC) has been spun off from JFC to become Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
2. All privileges and obligations made between Thailand and JFC that pertained to the International Financial Operations will be succeeded by JBIC.
The cabinet acknowledged the Signing of Financing Agreement Revision on intellectual properties cooperation between the European Community and ASEAN, Phase 3 (ECAP III) as proposed by Ministry of Commerce. Gist is as follows:
ECAP is a Government-to-Government grant aid between the European Community and ASEAN with an aim to expand ASEAN’s emergence in the world’s commercial and economic system through promotion of economic growth and reduction of poverty within the Region.
Ministry of Commerce has scrutinized ECAP III’s Financing Agreement Revision and concluded that the revision did not touch on the principle content of the Agreement, and there is not any financial and policy implication for ASEAN members. The Ministry, thereby, acknowledged the signing of Financing Agreement Revision of ECAP III by ASEAN’s Secretary General.
The cabinet approved the donation of rice from the Government’s rice pledging scheme for the Philippines Disaster Relief as proposed by Ministry of Commerce. Five hundred tons of white rice 5% of the 2012-off-season cultivation will be donated.
During the past 5 years, the Thai Government has made donation of rice from the Government’s stock for the purpose of disaster relief in the following countries:
1. People’s Republic of China — earthquake and flood relief, 1,000 tons of rice in volume was donated in 2007.
2. People's Republic of Bangladesh — relief of Cyclone Sidr-affected victims, 1,000 tons of rice in volume was donated in 2007.
3. The Philippines — earthquake relief, 620 tons of rice in volume was donated in 2010.
4. Republic of Haiti - earthquake relief, 20,000 tons of rice in volume was donated in 2010.
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) December 11, 2012--