The cabinet met at a Cabinet Retreat in Lopburi on Friday, November 1, 2013. Some of the decisions are as follows:
The Cabinet agreed with the following proposals made by Ministry of Commerce:
1. Agreed with the essence of Draft Protocol on Bilateral Market Access Agreement between Thailand and Seychelles under Seychelles? process of accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
2. Assigned Thai ambassador to the WTO or an authorized person to be the signatory of the Draft Protocol
3. Assigned Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare the Full Powers to the Thai ambassador to the WTO or an authorized person as the signatory of the Draft Protocol
The Cabinet acknowledged the following proposals made by National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB):
1. Acknowledged meeting resolutions on the Guidelines for the improvement of ministerial strategic plan and integrated provincial development plan
2. Assigned NESDB, the Budget Bureau, Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC), and Ministry of Interior to coordinate with provincial offices in improving provincial and integrated provincial strategic plan, and laying out operational plan for 2015
3. Assigned NESDB, BB, and OPDC to coordinate with concerned government agencies in improving ministerial strategic plan in accordance with long-term national strategic plan and laying out operational plan for 2015.
Gist
1) On October 28, 2013, Ministry of Interior and NESDB presented the big picture of improvement plan for the 4-year provincial and integrated provincial development plan (2015-2018) at the meeting of provincial governors, presided over by the Prime Minister. The resolutions are as follows:
1. Assigned each province and concerned agencies to review and adjust ministerial strategic plan and provincial and integrated provincial development plan
2. Assigned each province to set a comprehensive goal, and strategic objective which would correspond with 1) national strategic framework; ASEAN Community strategic framework; 3) 2-trillion Baht infrastructure development project; 4) 350 billion Baht water management project; and 5) agricultural zoning, and city planning.
2) On October 30, 2013, a meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, was held among concerned agencies, that is, Ministries of Transport, Interior, OPDC, BB, NESDB, and PM?s Secretary General, to deliberate guidelines for the improvement of provincial and integrated provincial development plan. Resolutions as follows:
1. Assigned Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization) and NESDB to lay out provincial map containing layers of information on important indicators in compliance with national strategic framework:
1. i. Enhancement of national competitiveness
2. ii. Enhancement of social equality and opportunities
3. iii. Enhancement of growth based on environmental-friendly quality of life
4. iv. Balancing and development of public administrative system
2. Assigned NESDB to improve national strategies as the framework guidelines for the improvement of ministerial strategic plan, and provincial and integrated provincial development plan of each province and concerned agency.
3. Assigned NESDB, BB, OPDC, and Ministry of Interior to coordinate with ministries and provinces on the preparation of ministerial strategic plan, and provincial and integrated provincial development plan which should contain the following information:
1. i. General information, such as indicators, threats and opportunities, etc.
2. ii. Specific information, such as ratio of sources of economic income, etc.
3. iii. Goals and solutions
4. iv. Corresponded details to the framework guidelines
5. v. Annual operational plan
6. vi. Expected outputs
7. vii. Man power and budget plans
4. Assigned NESDB, BB, OPDC, and Ministry of Interior to coordinate with ministries and provinces on the preparation of operation and budget plans for the year 2015
5. Assigned NESDB to prepare form templates for ministries and provinces to incorporate in the ministerial strategic plan, and provincial and integrated provincial development plan
The Cabinet acknowledged and approved the following proposals made by the NESDB:
1) Acknowledged outcomes of the 5/2013 Joint Public-Private Committee to solve regional economic problems (JPPC) held on October 31, 2013 in Lopburi.
2) Approved the resolutions of the 5/2013 JPPC meeting, and assigned concerned agencies to implement according to the JPPC resolutions, and later report to the NESDB.
Gist
The JPPC meeting on October 31, 2013 deliberated proposals of the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB). Deliberated proposals and resolutions as follows:
1) Trade and Investment Promotion (proposed by JSCCIB)
1. The meeting assigned Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives as the line agency for the project to promote agro products and food safety in the area of 4 provinces, that is, Lopburi, Chainat, Singburi, and Angthong.
2. Assigned Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives as the line agency to conduct a feasibility study on the implementation of rice-husk ash processing project.
3. Assigned Ministries of Interior, Energy, and Natural Resources and Environment to mobilize community?s garbage management.
4. Assigned Ministries of Industry, Finance, and Energy to consider tax privilege scheme for alternative energy industry as a special case.
2) Development of transportation network and logistics (proposed by JSCCIB)
1. Assigned Ministry of Transport to prioritized implementation of the following projects, proposed by the private sector, based on urgent needs: 1) construction of 4-lane national highway by-passing Angthong city; 2) expansion of Lopburi by-pass or national highway#366 (19 km) to 4 lanes; 3) construction of Lopburi by-pass (13 km) on the north side of Lopburi city; 4) expansion of 2 highways to 4 lanes as part of inter-provincial network connection project; and 5) improvement of Chainat Interchange along the Asian Highway (#32).
2. Assigned Ministry of Transport to conduct further study on new 4-lane Lopburi by-pass off national highway#32 for the distance of 25 km.
3. Assigned Ministry of Transport to coordinate with the Budget Bureau (BB) for the allocation of budget on the feasibility study project of raised median construction at Phaholyothin Rd (national highway#1) km. 280+578 for the distance of 24.984 km.
3) Tourism promotion (proposed by JSCCIB)
The meeting assigned NESDB, Ministries of Tourism and Sports, Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Interior, as well as concerned agencies to conduct detailed study on the implementation of a project to upgrade Ban Donfaek Sufficiency Economy Learning Center to Singburi?s Mae La-Karong Sufficiency Economy Learning Center and Community Product Center.
4) Progress report on the follow up of JPPC?s 1-7/2012, and 1/2013 meeting resolutions (proposed by NESDB)
5) Others deliberations
1. Implementation of one-stop service center for the application of license for electricity generation from alternative energy
2. Request for the increase of proportion of community renewable energy power plants (not exceeding 1 megawatt)
3. Innovation Coupon for SMEs project (2nd phase)
4. Negotiation on Thailand?s Expansion of Information Technology Agreement (ITA Expansion)
5. Ministerial Regulation on the requirement of number of disabled persons to be employed at a workplace or a government agency
6. ?Andaman Railway? Project
7. Urgent solution on the loss from early mortality syndrome (EMS) and capacity enhancement of marine shrimps production
8. US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
9. Measures to stimulate exports during the latter half of 2013
10. Urgent development of manpower to accommodate investment in the fields crucial to national development
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) November 1, 2013--