The cabinet met on Tuesday, February 12, 2013. Some of the decisions are as follows:
The cabinet approved a proposal of the Cabinet Screening Committee, Group 3 (Economics), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong with regard to the increase in recruitment of territorial militia volunteers in the Southern-border provinces for the year 2013. Gist as follows:
1) Approved the recruitment of additional 2,700 territorial militia volunteers in the Southern Border provinces, proposed by Ministry of Interior. Initial budget for the purpose is estimated at 135,954,900 Baht
2) Assigned the Budget Bureau to work on the detailed expenditure for the recruitment of additional 2,700 territorial militia volunteers in the Southern Border provinces, and submit later to the Cabinet for its consideration.
The cabinet acknowledged a proposal made by the Budget Bureau as follows:
1) Expenditure budget structure for the fiscal year 2014
In order to continuously mobilize national strategies, strategies to enter ASEAN Community in 2015, and other important policies, deficit budget policy for FY2014 is set for the amount of 250,000 Baht. Expenditure budget is 2,525,000 million Baht, an increase of 125,000 million Baht or 5.2% from the FY2013 budget.
2) Guidelines of budgeting and budget proposal for the fiscal year 2014
2.1. Priorities should be given to missions of the ministries/agencies that are in line with the national strategies, strategies to enter ASEAN Community in 2015, and 16 urgent government policies
2.2. Prioritize plans/projects in accordance with results of the workshop on national strategies integration, and with a plan for the need of initial investment budget acknowledged during the cabinet meeting on Janaury 21, 2013.
2.3. Connectivity, conformity, and mutual support between plans/projects under the public budget and those under non-public budget must be considered.
2.4. Ministries/agencies must review their overall work to postpone, deprioritize, or give up low-priority or unnecessary projects/plans, or those that are no longer in line with the Government policies and the current situation.
3) Budget allocation to local administrations
3.1. Priorities should be given to capacity building and efficiency enhancement of local administration’s revenue collection
3.2. Minimization of financial disparity by allocating additional budget to local administrations with lower revenue. This is for the sustainability of local financial system
3.3. Increase of efficiency in expenditure and provision of public services to the people for the better quality of life
Therefore, the budget for FY2014 allocated to local administration will be for the amount of 256,500 million Baht, an increase of 20,000 million Baht (8.5%) from the FY2013 budget.
The cabinet approved a decision of the Cabinet Screening Committee, Group 3 (Economics), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong with regard to the joint venture of EGAT International Co., Ltd. with Lao PDR on Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project as proposed by the Ministry of Energy. Gist as follows:
1) Approval on the investment of EGAT International Co., Ltd. in Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project, and on the budget request for the amount of US$79 million or 2,438 million Baht (@31 Baht:US$1) which is proportional to its 30% shareholding.
2) Approval of EGAT International’s joint venture, and the establishment of a joint venture company for the Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project in Lao PDR
3) Approval for the Shareholders Agreement that has already been scrutinized by the Office of the Attorney General, as well as other related documents to be subject to the resolution of contract dispute by way of arbitration.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and EGAT International Co., Ltd. are assigned to work on detail of the establishment of a joint venture company for the cabinet’s further consideration, and to receive comments from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The cabinet approved a Foreign Ministry’s proposal on the report of the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur that the Government of State of Palestine proposed the appointment of Mr. Abdulaziz Abughoush as the State of Palestine’s first ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Thailand (residence in Malaysia).
The cabinet approved additional holiday during Songkran festival to enable people to go back home during the festival. Gist as follows:
1) Approved an additional holiday on April 12, 2013 (Friday) as a special case, which would make it 5-day holidays (April 12-16, 2013) during Songkran Festival of 2013.
2) Each state enterprise, Bank of Thailand, and Ministry of Labor are to consider the additional holiday for state enterprises, financial institutions, and the private sector, respectively as appropriate.
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) February 12, 2013--