The Cabinet met on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at Command Building, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
Title: Draft Regulation of the Prime Minister’s Office on International Trade Development B.E. ...
The Cabinet resolved to agree in principle to the Draft Regulation of the Prime Minister’s Office on International Trade Development B.E. ... proposed by Ministry of Commerce. The Draft Regulation is to be forwarded to the Inspection Committee on Draft Laws and Subordinate Legislations. Ministry of Commerce would also have to consider the opinions of the Secretariat of the Cabinet.
Gist of the Draft Regulation
1. A committee called “The International Trade Development Committee” will be established. It will consist of the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister-appointed Deputy Prime Minister as Chairman, the Minister of Commerce as Vice Chairman, and Functional Committee Members such as the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, the Minister of Science and Technology, the Minister of Public Health, the Minister of Labour, the Deputy Minister of Commerce appointed by the Minister of Commerce, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce, the Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Secretary-General of the Board of Investment of Thailand, and the Director-General of the Bureau of the Budget. The Committee will also consist of no more than three Specialized Committee members appointed by Chairman, the Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion as Committee Member and Secretary, and the Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion as Committee Member and Deputy Secretary.
2. The authority and duty of the Committee members are deliberation of policies and directions for international trade development, deliberation of export targets and strategies, importation of means of production and essential goods, planning and coordination of financial resources utilization, determination of directions for administrative agencies, state enterprises and other agencies to solve problems and barriers in international trade development, any implementations regarding international trade development as appointed by the Cabinet, appointment of subcommittees or working groups to proceed with tasks assigned by the Prime Minister or the International Trade Development Committee, issuance of invitations to relevant persons to give explanations or opinions, follow-up and acceleration on operations by related administrative agencies, and other implementations regarding the Regulation or as appointed by the Cabinet or the Prime Minister.
Title: Draft Digital Economy and Society Development Act B.E. …
The Cabinet agreed to the Draft Digital Economy and Society Development Act B.E. … as proposed by Office of the Council of State. Office of the Council of State has considered the Draft Act and submitted it to the Coordinating Committee of the National Legislative Assembly before proposing to the National Legislative Assembly.
Gist of the Draft Act
1. The Cabinet must provide a national policy and plan on digital economy and society development as recommended by the National Digital Economy and Society Committee. Government agencies must exercise their authority in line with the national policy and plan.
2. Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Committee will be established as a Department under Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, overseeing administrative works of the National Digital Economy and Society Committee and specific committees, and having appointed authority and function.
3. The Digital Economy and Society Development Fund will be established under the Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Committee. The purpose will be to fund expenses relating to the building of digital economy and society. A fund management committee will be appointed to ensure the fund is being administered to its objectives.
4. Office of Digital Economy Promotion will be established with an aim of promoting and supporting development of digital industry and innovation to propel the use of digital technology to create or disseminate content that benefits the country’s economy, society, culture and security.
5. Regulative Committee for the Office of Digital Economy Promotion will be established to regulate and monitor the Office of Digital Economy Promotion’s operation as well as to ensure that the Office’s implementations live up to the Digital Economy Promotion Strategy.
6. Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) will be abolished. SIPA employees still on duty on the day before this Act is enforced will be transferred to become temporary employees of the Office of Digital Economy Promotion.
Title: National Automotive and Tire Test Center Establishment Project
The Cabinet approved in principle the National Automotive and Tire Test Center Establishment Project as proposed by Ministry of Industry.
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Industry reported as follows:
1. Thailand must accelerate to establish the National Automotive and Tire Test Center, which will enhance export competitiveness of Thailand’s automotive and auto parts industry. Thailand is ASEAN’s no. 1, Asia’s no. 5 and the world’s no. 9 in terms of automotive production volume. In terms of tire production value, Thailand is ASEAN’s no. 1, Asia’s no. 4 and the world’s no. 7. Tire is also one of Thailand’s product champions. Establishing the National Automotive and Tire Test Center contributes to promotion and upgrade of Thai tire and auto parts quality. It supports tests and acknowledges the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement which is part of agreements under the ASEAN Economic Community. The establishment also facilitates domestic manufacturers who will no longer have to test their tires abroad. Moreover, there is no tire test center geared toward the UN R117 standards in ASEAN. Being the first country in ASEAN to have that test center, Thailand will become a leader in tire and auto parts test and certification, as well as a hub in the region’s automotive and tire industry. This will become investors’ motivation to invest in Thailand, which results in the country’s economic development, more use of domestic rubber and, thus, reduced dependence in processed rubber exportation. All in all, the growth of Thailand’s entire rubber industry will be stabilized and sustained.
2. The tire and auto parts industry is constantly expanding along with the growth of domestic automotive industry. However, tire and auto part products still lack testing that meets international standards, which compromises country partners’ acceptance in Thai products. The UN R117 certification is being enforced by country partners to ensure tire safety and environmental standards. The UN R117 is not enforced in Thailand and there is no testing center that certifies the standards.
Title: Approval on International Seminar Workshop on the Implementation of United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development (UNGPs on AD) or International Conference on Alternative Development2 (ICAD2)
The Cabinet resolved to agree to and approved Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Ministry of Justice to host the International Seminar Workshop on the Implementation of United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development (UNGPs on AD) or the International
Conference on Alternative Development2 (ICAD2) during November 19-27, as proposed by ONCB, Ministry of Justice.
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Justice reported as follows:
Ministry of Justice through NCB, as a central drug control agency, has coordinated with relevant agencies namely Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, Highland Research and Development Institute (Public Organization), the Royal Project Foundation, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Thailand Institute of Justice (Public Organization) to jointly host the International Conference during November 19-24, 2015 in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. The activity will be divided into two parts. The first part will be a field observation between November 19 and 22, 2015. The second part will be a senior officials meeting between November 23 and 24, 2015. The International Seminar Workshop will not only be the best way to disseminate and exchange guiding principles, propel concrete implementation of alternative development, and create a cooperation network between experts and practitioners relevant to alternative development; it will also be a representation of His Majesty the King’s remarkable aptitude in alternative development and an honor towards His Majesty on the occasion of His Majesty’s 88th birthday anniversary in 2015.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) June 16, 2015--