The cabinet met on Tuesday, July 2, 2013. Some of the decisions are as follows:
Following the suggestion from Ministry of Finance, the Cabinet:
1. Approved in principle Draft Ministry of Finance’s Announcement on exemption of duty and reduction of custom duty for ASEAN Free Trade Area (No. ...), and draft Ministry of Finance’s Announcement on exemption of duty and reduction of custom duty for ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Scheme (No. ...), and ordered the reviewing committee on draft law and by-law to further review, taking into consideration the observations from Office of the Cabinet Secretariat.
2. Assigned Ministry of Finance to take suggestions of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) into consideration to further proceed.
The Cabinet agreed with the draft royal decree to convoke ordinary session of the National Assembly B.E. 2556 following suggestion from the Secretariat of the Cabinet. The draft is to further present to His Majesty the King.
Fact
Following Section 127 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, it is appropriate timing to convoke ordinary session of the National Assembly B.E. 2556 from August 1, 2013 onwards.
The Secretariat of the Cabinet, thus, drafted the decree on convocation of ordinary session of the National Assembly B.E. 2556 in order to convoke ordinary session of the National Assembly from August 1, 2013 onwards.
The Cabinet acknowledged resolutions on the master plan for Chao Phraya River-crossing bridges in Bangkok and vicinity made by the 3rd Cabinet Sub-committee (economic) in its 12/2556 meeting on May 31, 2013, following the suggestion of Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong, in his capacity as Chairman of the meeting. The master plan would be a guideline on the development of Chao Phraya River-crossing bridges for concerned agencies.
Gist
The Master plan for Chao Phraya River-crossing bridges for the next 20 years is essential as necessity arises to construct new Chao Phraya River-crossing bridges to accommodate commuting demand to cross the River. It is predicted that in 2021, there will be an increasing demand of car commutation across the river by 450,000 persons/route/day.
1. Under the first 10 year phase plan (present-2021), there are 9 projects which includes 1) Kiak Kai Bridge construction which needs urgent implementation considering the project’s readiness and facilitation of the new Parliament House. The bridge is expected to open for use within 2016. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is to be responsible for the construction of this bridge, 2) Rama II Bridge construction which will be under the responsibility of BMA, 3) Samut Prakan Bridge which will be under the responsibility the Department of Rural Roads, 4) Pathum Thani 3 Bridge which will be under the responsibility of Department of Highway, 5) Lad Yah-Maha Pruettharam Bridge which will be under the responsibility of BMA, 6) Nonthaburi Pier Bridge will be under the responsibility of the Department of Rural Roads, 7) Thanon Chan-Charoen Nakhon Bridge which will be under the responsibility of BMA, and 8) Ratchawongse-Tha Dindaeng Bridge which will be under the responsibility of BMA.
2. Under the last 10 year phase plan (2021-2031), there will be a project on Sanambin Nam Bridge is planned, which will be under the responsibility of the Department of Rural Roads.
Following the Ministry of Commerce’s proposal regarding the resolution of National Rice Policy Committee (NRPC) made in its meeting on July 1, 2013, the Cabinet:
1. Acknowledged the price, quantity, pledging price quota, and pledging period for the rice pledging scheme (production year 2012-2013).
2. Agreed with the measures on anti-corruption related to the rice pledging scheme and assigned concerned agencies to strictly adopt the measures.
3. Agreed with the Zoning plan to increase efficiency in rice farming, decrease cost, and increase farmers’ revenue.
Gist
The NRPC approved to maintain the pledging price for 15% humid level rice, that is, 15,000 baht per ton for 100% rice paddy, 16,000 baht per ton for Pathum Thaini 1 paddy (42 gram), 16,000 baht per ton for long-grain 10% glutinous paddy (42 gram), and 15,000 baht per ton for short-grain (40 gram). The pledging will not exceed the amount indicated in the certification of farmers issued by the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and the maximum pledging price will remain as 500,000 baht per farming household as earlier approved by the NRPC on June 18, 2013. The aforementioned pledging price will retroactively be effective from June 30, 2013 onwards. The rice pledging scheme (production year 2012-2013) will end on September 15, 2013, and November 30, 2013 for the Southern region.
The Cabinet agreed with the principles and guideline on the issuance of Full Powers and annulled the Cabinet’s resolution on October 1, 2002 with regard to the guideline for the issuance of Full Powers, following the suggestion of Office of the Council of State.
Gist of the principles and guideline for the issuance of Full Powers
1. In the arrangement of contracts on behalf of the Government of Thailand or the Kingdom of Thailand with foreign governments, foreign states or international organizations that would result in legal obligation under the international law enforcement, if the signer of such document is not the Prime Minister or Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Full Powers must be issued for an authorized person. Concerned ministries, departments, divisions, or offices must submit to the Cabinet for its approval on the contract signing, and for its assignment to Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue the Full Powers.
2. Any agreement between ministries, departments, divisions or offices and foreign governments, foreign states or international organizations, which will not result in legal obligation under the international law enforcement, the agency’s authorized person or a designated person may sign on the agreement without requesting for Full Powers.
Following the suggestion of Ministry of Energy, the Cabinet,
1. Approved the signing of Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of the Regional Power Coordination Centre in the Greater Mekong Subregion (IGM), and agreed to further submit to the National Assembly for approval, in pursuant with Section 190 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand.
2. Assigned Minister of Energy or a person authorized by Minister of Energy to sign the aforementioned draft MOU. Once the National Assembly approves the aforementioned draft MOU as stated in 1., Minister of Energy may further proceed.
3. Assigned Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue the Full Powers for Minister of Energy or a person authorized by Minister of Energy to sign the aforementioned MOU. Once the National Assembly approves the aforementioned draft MOU as stated in 1., Ministry of Foreign Affairs may further proceed.
4. Assigned Ministry of Energy to take suggestions of Office of the Council of State into further consideration.
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) Jul 2, 2013--