The cabinet met on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. Some of the decisions are as follows:
Following Ministry of Finance’s suggestion, the Cabinet agreed in principle and assigned concerned offices to implement the measures to promote stable economic growth.
Gist
Measures to promote stable economic growth are categorized into 4 aspects, that is, private consumption, private investment, public expenditure, and exportation. Details are as follows:
1. Measures on private consumption
1.1 Taxation measure to promote organization of seminars in the country
1.2 Measure to promote the use of energy-saving electrical appliances
2. Measures on private investment
2.1 Taxation measure to elevate tourism industry
2.2 Measure to promote the second phase of eco-car promotion
2.3 Measure to promote investment in agro-processing industry (food and energy)
2.4 Measure to promote access of SME entrepreneurs to sources of investment fund
(1) Credit and guarantee for SME entrepreneurs
(2) Guarantee for OTOP entrepreneurs and community enterprises (Micro-finance)
(3) Measure to promote Nano-finance access
3. Measures on public expenditure
3.1 Measure to accelerate budget disbursement of fiscal year B.E. 2556
(1) To accelerate disbursement of provincial/integrated provincial development budget
(2) To accelerate disbursement of the Local Administration Organization budget
(3) To accelerate budget disbursement of the extra-budgetary funds
3.2 Measure to accelerate budget disbursement of fiscal year B.E. 2557
(1) To prepare for urgent expenditure of at the beginning of the fiscal year B.E. 2557
(2) To accelerate encumbrance disbursement of the fiscal year B.E. 2556 and the previous fiscal year
(3) To accelerate the budget disbursement for civil servants and government permanent employees' gratuities for fiscal year B.E. 2555.
(4) To accelerate the budget disbursement of training and seminar
4. Measure on exportation
4.1 Exportation and international trade
(1) To accelerate the export of goods to potential markets.
(2) To promote the use of Bbaht currency in trading with neighboring countries.
(3) To promote international trade finance.
4.2 Promotion of tourism among foreigners
(1) To endorse multiple-entry visa.
(2) To promote Thailand as a Shopping Paradise.
The cabinet acknowledged a resolution made by the first Cabinet Sub-committee (economics) chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong in its 2/2013 meeting on July 26, 2013, which agreed in principle for MCOT Public Company Limited to bid for a commercial digital terrestrial TV broadcasting license. If MCOT PCL. wins the auction, it may reimburse any expense incurred from the bidding process as earlier approved by the cabinet in its meeting on October 9, 2012 on budgetary framework of state enterprises for FY B.E. 2556.
In case there is any investment obligation, MCOT PCL. must seek the cabinet's approval prior to the implementation, and is also to take suggestions of Office of the National Economics and Social Development Board in to consideration.
Title: Signing of draft protocol on the conclusion of bilateral trade agreement between Thailand and Afghanistan under Afghanistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization
Following the suggestion from Ministry of Commerce, the Cabinet,
1. Agreed with the essence of draft protocol on the conclusion of bilateral trade agreement between Thailand and Afghanistan under Afghanistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.
2. Assigned the Thai Ambassador and Permanent Representative to World Trade Organization or an authorized person to sign the aforementioned draft protocol.
The Cabinet agreed with the Illegal Migrant Worker Administration Committee’s resolutions on the administration of Laotian, Myanmar and Cambodian migrant workers made on July 25, 2013, following the suggestion of Ministry of Labor. Details are as follows:
1. Direction on the systematization of Laotian, Myanmar and Cambodian migrant workers after August 11, 2013: temporarily permit Myanmar, Laotian and Cambodian illegal migrant workers, whose employers have already submitted name list to the Department of Employment, following the Cabinet’s resolutions made on January 15, 2013 (Title: Special permission for the legalization process of illegal migrant workers) but have not completed individual verification from the country of origin, to temporarily reside in the Kingdom of Thailand for 1 year and to work, in pursuant with section 13(2) of Working of Aliens Act B.E. 2551.
2. Direction on the systematization of Laotian, Myanmar, and Cambodian migrant workers (for marine fishery business): employers in the business of marine fishery are required to register their Myanmar, Laotian and Cambodian illegal migrant workers twice a year. The registered migrant workers are permitted to temporarily reside in the Kingdom of Thailand for 1 year, and to work in pursuant with section 13(2) of Working of Aliens Act B.E. 2551.
Ministry of Labor is assigned to accelerate the implementation under the directions on systematization of Laotian, Myanmar, and Cambodian migrant workers, and to submit periodic reports to the Cabinet. Deputy Prime Minister, Pol.Gen. Pracha Promnok was assigned to supervise and to determine measures for prevention and suppression of human trafficking for the more concrete results in order to improve national image on human rights on an international level. Ministry of Public Health is also to strictly control and supervise health check up of the migrant workers.
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) August 6, 2013--