The Cabinet met on Monday, April 20, 2015 at Command Building, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows; Title: Beggar Control Act B.E ...
The Cabinet approved in principle the Beggar Control Act B.E. ... as proposed by Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and agreed to forward the Act to the Council of State for consideration. The act will be handed over to the coordinating committee of the National Legislative Assembly before being presented to the National Legislative Assembly. Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and relevant agencies were demanded to follow the Cabinet’s resolution on February 24, 2015 by solving and re-organizing beggars in order to reduce the number of beggars in Thailand. The aim is to enable beggars to make a living by themselves and improve their quality of life.
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security would also look into laws which would discourage the begging of and help rehabilitate beggars who are children, elderly, lunatics, and disabled or sick people, as well as those who have no relatives and no jobs. Such laws include the Child Protection Act B.E. 2546, the Enforcement on Human Trafficking Suppression and Prevention Act B.E. 2551, and the Homeless Protection Act B.E. 2557. The Ministry will study these acts to prevent redundancy and will notify the Council of State for further consideration.
Title: Acknowledgement of draft declaration on official building of strong ASEAN community and people that are adaptable to disasters and climate change
The Cabinet agreed to the draft declaration on the official building of strong ASEAN community and people that are adaptable to disasters and climate change as proposed by Ministry of Interior.
Gist of the draft declaration
1. It is mutual intention of the 10 ASEAN member states to reduce disaster risks, especially those arising from climate change that will affect the region’s economy, society, culture and environment.
2. Focus is on cooperating to create measures which endorse risk reduction.
3. Relevant parties from all sectors are encouraged to participate in preventing and managing risks at the local, national, and regional levels. Investments in risk-reduction projects are promoted.
4. Member states will jointly create a shared database within the region, as well as strengthen national and regional institutions to prevent and reduce risks.
5. ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management launched a center for cross-border cooperation in a bid to reinforce the region’s strength against such risks.
Title: Draft Joint Statement of the Ninth Summit of Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT)
The Cabinet agreed to the proposal made by Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) as follows:
1. The Draft Joint Statement of the Ninth Summit of Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) was approved. NESDB is authorized to amend the Joint Statement in places which are not gist of the statement without obtaining another Cabinet’s approval.
2. The Prime Minister was approved as head of the Thai delegation at the Ninth Summit of IMT-GT to be held in Langkawi, state of Kedah, Malaysia. The Prime Minister will acknowledge the Joint Statement at the Summit.
3. Deputy Minister of Transport and NESDB Secretary-General Akom Termpittayapaisit was approved as IMT-GT Minister for joining the Ninth Summit of IMT-GT in Kedah, Malaysia. He will continue to lead the Thai ministerial-level delegation in IMT-GT.
4. The Thai delegation joining the Ninth Summit of IMT-GT in Kedah, Malaysia comprises the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Commerce, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Secretary-General of NESDB (Akom Termpittayapaisit), the Secretary General to the Prime Minister, the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce, the Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister (Anuson Chinvanno), the Government Spokesman (Capt. Yongyuth Mayalarp), the Deputy Secretary-General of NESDB (Porametee Vimolsiri), the Deputy Secretary-General of NESDB (Pattama Teanravisitsagool), the Director-General of Department of International Economic Affairs, and Thailand+3 IMT-GT Chairman of Joint Business Council (National Secretariat).
Title: Application for the position of an observer in Government Procurement Agreement Committee (GPA Committee) under World Trade Organization
The Cabinet agreed upon Thailand’s application to become an observer in the Government Procurement Agreement Committee (GPA Committee) under the World Trade Organization as proposed by Ministry of Finance. Ministry of Finance was approved to proceed with relevant implementations.
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Finance reported as follows:
1. GPA now has 42 member countries and 28 observer countries. One ASEAN country, Singapore, is a member of GPA, while three ASEAN countries are observers namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
2. At present, Thailand has bilateral Free Trade Agreements concerning government procurement with some countries such as the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA), Thailand and New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (TNZCEP), and Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). The GPA has been used as a guideline for government procurement in FTA negotiation. Applying to be an observer in the GPA Committee will prepare Thailand for future entrance into a global government procurement stage.
3. Benefits from being an observer is that Thailand can send delegates to GPA Committee meetings to follow up on its progress, implementations and management under the GPA. Thailand can also observe discussions on important matters and problems arising from abiding by the GPA. This information can be used as reference for development of Thailand’s government procurement system and for in-depth study in the pros, the cons and possible impacts in case Thailand decides to join the GPA membership. Moreover, academic support can be requested from the WTO to increase Thailand’s understanding of the GPA, especially in using the GPA principle in FTA negotiations.
Title: Exchange of letters with International Organization for Migration (IOM)
The Cabinet granted the following approvals as proposed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
1. Thailand is approved to exchange letters with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Cabinet also approved in principle for the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the appointed to serve as signatory of the letters to complete the process.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allowed to amend the letters in places not affecting the gist without seeking another Cabinet’s approval.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) April 20, 2015--