The Cabinet met on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at Command Building, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows; Title: Draft Regulation on Digital Economy and Society Preparation Committee, B.E. ...
The Cabinet approved in principle the Draft Regulation on Digital Economy and Society Preparation Committee, B.E. ... as proposed by Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.
Gist of the Draft Regulation
1. A committee called “Digital Economy and Society Preparation Committee” will be established.
2. The Preparation Committee is assigned the following duties: making national policies and plans; giving recommendations regarding national policies and plans to the Cabinet; monitoring, inspecting, and evaluating government agencies’ operations and cooperating with national committees established under other laws, giving recommendations to the Cabinet regarding amendment of laws relevant to development of digital economy and society; recommending integration of fiscal, financial and investment policies and directions; and integrating approvals of projects involving private investment in state undertakings relevant with development of digital economy and society.
Title: Report on Thai economy in 2014, and the 2015 outlook
The Cabinet acknowledged report on Thai economy in the fourth quarter of 2014, and the 2015 outlook as proposed by Office of the National Economics and Social Development Board (NESDB).
1.1 Thai economy in the fourth-quarter of 2014
Fourth-quarter GDP expanded by 2.3%, an obvious improvement from only a 0.2% increase during the first three quarters. Seasonally adjusted, the quarterly GDP expanded by 1.7% from the third quarter, accelerating from a 1.2% increase in the previous quarter.
1.2 Thai economy in 2014
Full-year 2014 economic growth increased by 0.7%, thanks to state spending, household consumption and the agricultural sector which expanded by 2.8%, 0.3% and 1.1%, respectively. However, overall investment and the industrial sector contracted by 2.8% and 1.1%, respectively. Hotels and restaurants dropped by 2.1%. Tourist arrivals totaled 24.8 million (a drop of 6.7%). Exports value stood at 224.792 billion US dollars, down by 0.3% due to the decrease in export prices of agricultural and relevant products, especially rice and rubber, as well as the slow recovery of global economy in 2014. However, Thai economy remained stable with full-year unemployment rate of 0.8%, inflation rate of 1.9%, and a current account surplus of 3.8% of GDP.
1.3 Thai economic outlook in 2015
Thai economy is expected to grow by 3.5-4.5% in 2015 due to the following factors: (1) the slow recovery of exportation which follows global recovery; (2) the recovery in private investment and tourism; (3) acceleration in government spending and implementation of major investment projects; (4) the rebound in automotive production and distribution; and (5) the decrease in global crude oil prices. However, economic expansion will encounter three important obstructions: (1) global agricultural prices whose recovery has not been obvious; (2) high volatility in global economic and monetary systems; and (3) currency depreciation in partnering and competing countries, and the increase in real interest rate.
1.4 Issues of economic management in 2015
Managing the economy in 2015 must focus on (1) taking care of low-income farmers and implementing measures to boost agricultural production apart from subsidies and loans already offered; (2) taking care of SMEs affected by economic slowdown and currency depreciation in key export markets; (3) promoting sideline career development and enhancement of skills for informal low-income workers and business workers affected by economic slowdown; (4) accelerating exports to achieve the growth target of 4.0%; (5) expediting consideration of pending investment-promotion projects and projects proposed in late 2014, as well as pushing for immediate implementation of approved projects; (6) implementing fiscal and currency exchange policies in line with economic circumstance; and (7) continually expediting, monitoring, and evaluating state expenditures, especially disbursement of FY2015 investment budget, disbursement of state enterprises, transport infrastructure investment projects, and development of border special economic zone, as well as the Dawei Special Economic Zone Development project jointly invested with foreigners, to build confidence and stimulate investment decision by the private sector.
Title: Approval on partaking in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Act, B.E. ...
The Cabinet granted the following approvals to the proposals made by Ministry of Culture:
1. The Cabinet granted approval for Thailand to partake in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The National Legislative Assembly will later approve the partaking under Section 23, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand;
2. The Cabinet approved in principle the Draft Intangible Cultural Heritage, B.E. …. as proposed by Ministry of Culture. The Draft Act will be considered by the Office of the Council of State and the coordinating committee of the National Legislative Assemble, before submission to the National Legislative Assembly; and
3. Ministry of Culture is assigned to make action plans for the period of three months, six months, nine months, and one year regarding the protection and promotion of Thai arts and culture, as well as local wisdoms, by ways of, for instance, registering local intellectuals and local wisdoms as stated under the Cabinet resolution on January 20, 2015. The plans will be proposed to the Cabinet within a month.
Title: Agreement signing between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders
The Cabinet agreed and approved the proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
1. The Cabinet agreed to the draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to amend the draft agreement where necessary, in places not affecting the gist of the draft agreement and the benefits of Thailand, without obtaining another Cabinet approval;
2. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of his delegation is approved as agreement signatory; and
3. The Cabinet approved in principle for Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform Belarus regarding enforcement of the agreement.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) February 18, 2015--