The Cabinet met on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at Command Building 1, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
Title: Rescheduling of the auction for telecom licenses on 900-MHz spectrum
The Cabinet acknowledged rescheduling of the auction for telecom licenses on the 900-MHz spectrum from December 15, 2015 to November 12, 2015 as proposed by National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC). The aim is to push forward earlier service of the 900-MHz telecom spectrum, which will be good for overall picture of national economy, and help reduce the budget in organizing the auction.
The rescheduled auction of 900-MHz licenses will be on the adjacent date with the auction for 1800 MHz licenses. However, bid rigging will not be possible as terms and conditions of the auctions are carefully set to prevent bid rigging.
Title: Request for approval on drafting agreement for rubber products purchase
The Cabinet approved a proposal made by Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to authorize Rubber Authority of Thailand to proceed with an agreement for the purchase of rubber products with SINOCHEM, the Chinese counterpart, under China-Thailand Cooperation Framework on Trade of Agricultural Products, and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Product Cooperation between the two countries which was signed on December 19, 2014 in Bangkok.
Title: Measures to enhance competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
The Cabinet acknowledged the measures to enhance competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for FY 2016 as proposed by Ministry of Industry. Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) is authorized to act as leading agency in integrating operations with concerned agencies, and following up on the progress.
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Industry reported that it has cooperated and integrated operations with related agencies, namely, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Justice, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Commerce and Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP). All concerned agencies agreed upon the proposed measures to enhance competitiveness of 97,503 SMEs in FY 2016. The measures aim to (1) strengthen 55,338 existing SMEs (Regular), (2) create 22,715 new entrepreneurs in constructiveness and innovations (Start-up), (3) provide support to 17,000 SMEs that need immediate help in revising business plan (Turn-around), and (4) initiate and develop supportive factors (Enabling business) for 2,450 SMEs in terms of funding, factory registration, and business contract registration. Implementation is divided into 2 parts:
1.Implementations under the allocated budget (FY 2016):
1.1 Strengthening existing SMEs (Regular) and creating new entrepreneurs (Start-up)-- approximately 53,040 SMEs are targeted
1.2 Providing support to SMEs that need immediate help in revising the business plan (Turn-around) )-- approximately 17,000 SMEs are targeted
2.Implementations under additionally-proposed budget (FY2 2016) for SMEs competitive enhancement which targets 27,463 SMEs. This is an integrated operation between Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Commerce and Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP).
Title: Request for approval on Draft Documents to be endorsed at the 21st ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Transport as follows:
1.The Cabinet approved three draft documents including (1) Draft ASEAN Declaration on Road Safety, (2) Draft Post-2015 Declaration on ASEAN transport, and (3) ASEAN Transport Strategic Plan 2016-2025. Thai delegation is authorized to amend the draft documents where necessary, if not affecting gist of the documents or the benefit of Thailand, without further Cabinet’s consideration.
2. Minister of Transport or his representative is assigned to attend the 21st ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting to endorse the draft documents.
Gist of the Draft Declaration and Strategic Plan are as follows:
1.Draft ASEAN Declaration on Road Safety aims to express political will of ASEAN Transport Ministers to reduce road traffic casualty rate in ASEAN member states to 50% by 2020. The Declaration will be in effect until 2033. Strategic Plan on Road Safety within the region is in accordance with UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.
2.Draft Post-2015 Declaration on ASEAN transport is an endorsement of Vision for ASEAN Cooperation in Transport (2015-2025), “moving forward to connected, effective, safe and sustainable multimodal transport within ASEAN to enhance ASEAN’s competitiveness, and support regional development and growth”. The Declaration is also an endorsement of ASEAN Strategic Plan in Transport (2016-2025).
3.ASEAN Transport Strategic Plan (2016-2025), or Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan, aims to promote ASEAN Economic Community Vision 2025. The Plan is developed based on Brunei Action Plan 2011-2015 and Post-2015 Declaration on ASEAN transport, consisting of 5 prospects of cooperation: 1) air transport 2) land transport 3) waterway transport 4) sustainable transport and 5) transport facilities.
Title: Request for approval and endorsement of Draft Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration at the Third ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence as follows:
1.The Cabinet approved the Draft Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of the Third ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus.
2.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence or his representative is authorized to endorse the Draft Joint Declaration.
3.Ministry of Defence is authorized to amend the draft documents where necessary, if not affecting gist of the document or the benefit of Thailand,
1.Uphold good principle of diplomacy in respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Resolve conflicts with peaceful means based on mutual interests
2.Reiterate the importance of freedoms of navigation and overflight, which are endorsed by international treaties and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
3.Provide support and development to the operations of expert taskforces at meeting between ASEAN Ministers of Defence and Dialogue Partners to enhance capacity, and create friendship and trust
4.Welcome the establishment of ASEAN Center of Military Medicine initiative, that aims to promote cooperation for effective and sustainable operations between military medicine centers of ASEAN members states and dialogue partners
5.Make an effort to improve security work procedures to be more effective, especially budget expenditure for effective outcomes
6.Promote people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN integration through concrete and constructive cooperation
7.Cooperate in accordance with domestic and international laws in order to forge cooperation in fighting against terrorism and violent extremism by exchanging insights, monitoring, and raising public awareness regarding threats by extremists. Welcome the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers and Defence Ministers Dialogue Partners Meeting in 2017 in the Philippines
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) October 27, 2015--