The Cabinet met on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
Title: Request for approval of 10-year Housing Development Strategic Plan (B.E. 2559-2568), 3-year Housing Development Operational Plan for Low-Income Earners (B.E. 2559-2561), and 1-year Housing Mobilization Operational Plan for Low-Income Earners (B.E. 2559)
The Cabinet agreed in principle on action plans made by Ministry of Social Development and Human Security as follows:
1. 10-year Housing Development Strategic Plan (B.E. 2559-2568)
2. 3-year Housing Development Operational Plan for Low-Income Earners (B.E. 2559-2561)
3. 1-year Housing Mobilization Operational Plan for Low-Income Earners (B.E. 2559)
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security reported that
1. According to the National Statistical Office of Thailand (NSO), in 2013, number of low-income earners with no home ownership reaches 2.72 million households, to whom the government should provide support in a bid to improve their quality of life.
2. Sub-committee on Housing Mobilization For Low-Income Earners, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister (General Prawit Wongsuwan), agreed to these three draft documents on November 9, 2015 and made order to include Housing Development Plan for Government Officials, as well as and amend the aforementioned plans to achieve the goals in promoting home ownership for low-income earners. Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has accoedingly amended the plans, as well as the budget or other financial resources plans, that are in accordance with the operations. The details are as follows:
3. 10-year Housing Development Strategic Plan (B.E. 2559-2568) aims to promote housing security and improve quality of life by providing standard housing in an ideal community with public utilities
1. 3-year Housing Development Operational Plan for Low-Income Earners (B.E. 2559-2561) includes
1) Housing Development Phase 1 (B.E. 2557-2559);
2) Housing Development Phase 2;
3) Housing welfare for government officials (leasing);
4) Housing development along railway in 4 areas;
5) Buildings for rent for low-income earners B.E. 2558-2560;
6) Buildings for rent for workers in 10 areas of Special Economic Zones;
7) Din Daeng restoration;
8) Housing welfare for government officials;
9) Community development;
10) Development of quality of life for homeless people;
11) Security Home to address slums problem; and 12) Rural Sufficiency Housing.
2. 1-year Housing Mobilization Operational Plan for Low-Income Earners (B.E. 2559) consists of
1) Housing Development Phase 1, B.E. 2557-2559;
2) Housing welfare for government officials (leasing);
3) Buildings for rent for low-income earners B.E. 2558-2560;
4) Din Daeng restoration;
5) Housing welfare for government officials;
6) Community along the banks of canals development;
7) Development of quality of life for homeless people;
8) Security Home to solve the slums issue; and
9) Rural Sufficiency Housing.
Title: Measures to support rubber farmers
The Cabinet approved measures to support rubber farmers as proposed by Ministry of Commerce in a bid to alleviate their plights, due to rubber price plummet, as follows.
1. Packaged rice project to support rubber farmers:
1) Public Warehouse Organization, Ministry of Commerce collaborates with Thai Rice Packers Association to produce 4,014,315 premium packaged rice with “Rubber Farmers Support” logo to help rubber farmers who registered with Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in 68 provinces, a total of 802,863 households (5 Packaged rice for each household).
2) Ministry of Commerce is authorized to manage and distribute packaged rice to rubber farmers in each area as planned.
Implementation period is 3 months during January – March 2016
2. Alleviation of cost of living for rubber farmers for the year 2016
Department of Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce is authorized to merchandise consumer goods and necessary products, such as rice, cooking oil, eggs, sugar at 20-40% lower than market prices in 14 areas of 159 districts in Southern part of Thailand.
1.Plan on promotion of rubber and rubber products export aims to expand export markets for rubber and rubber products. In 2015, Department of International Trade Promotion, on behalf of Ministry of Commerce, implemented 6 projects on organizing business pairing negotiation, and exhibitions, and dispatching Thai delegates to visit trading partners. Net sales value reached 1,009.52 million US dollars or 36,342.72 million Baht from the sales of 585,450 tons of natural rubber (969.48 million US dollars) and rubber products (40.04 million US dollars).
In 2016, the plan to promote rubber and rubber products export has been pro-actively continued. The Cabinet made order to delegates of Department of International Trade Promotion in 61 cities to organize visits of international buyers to Thailand, beginning with Cambodian rubber importers who are scheduled to have trade negotiations with Thai counterparts during January 24-27, 2016. In addition, there are also plans for Thai entrepreneurs from 96 companies to showcase their products in international exhibitions in Taiwan, Italy and United Arab Emirates and Germany, and delegates of 100 Thai companies are scheduled to travel to Iran, Mexico, Panama, Columbia, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania for rubber trade negotiation.
Title: GEF UNIDO Cleantech Programme for SMEs in Thailand
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Industry as follows.
1. The Cabinet agreed to the Draft Document of GEF UNIDO Cleantech Programme for SMEs in Thailand.
2. Director-General of Department of Industry Promotion or his representative is authorized to sign the Draft Document of GEF UNIDO Cleantech Programme for SMEs in Thailand, with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The signatory is authorized to amend the draft document where necessary, if not affecting gist of the document, without further submitting to the Cabinet for its consideration.
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assigned to issue a full power to the Director-General of Department of Industry Promotion or his representative to serve as signatory of the Draft Document.
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Industry reported that
1.Department of Indutrial Promotion, on behalf of Ministry of Industry, collaborated with National Science and Technology Development Agency, National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office, Ministry of Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering of Kasetsart University and United Nations Industrial Development Organization to organize GEF UNIDO Cleantech Programme for SMEs in Thailand. The programme aims to promote and develop Small and Medium Enterprises, including Start-ups, who generate clean technology innovations and gain access to international capital resources such as Venture Capitals and Angels Network, in a bid to increase their productivity to support global market in 4 aspects; Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Waste-to-Energy and Renewable Energy. The programme will follow Cleantech Open model of Silicon Valley in the US.
Title : Support Program for Thailand's G77 Chairmanship
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on implementation of Support Program for Thailand’s G77 Chairmanship during November, 2015 to January 2017.
1. Objectives:
(1) to ensure smooth and successful operations of Thailand as G77 Chairman, which will enhance the country’s prestige and credibility;
(2) to protect and promote economic benefits and development;
(3) to promote Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as an alternative means for sustainable development among the United Nations’ member states;
(4) to be prepared for future appointment at the global stage; and
(5) to promote understanding among agencies in the country regarding the operations as G77 Chairman.
Operation period: November 2015 – January 2017
2. Plan and mission as G77 Chairman and additional missions: Thailand will put forward Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to gain recognition at the global stage as one of the alternative means for UN member states to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
3. Thailand’s G77 Chairmanship will upgrade the country’s role and status at the international stage as well as enhance its credibility. Thailand can take this opportunity and experiences to prepare for future appointment at the global stage, such as non-permanent membership of the United States Security Council (UNSC). In addition, the country will have a leading role and be able to take part in agenda setting and implementation, setting of rules and regulations on economic and international development at the UN stage regarding key issues, especially promotion of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to be recognized at the UN stage.
Title: Request for approval for establishment of Honorary Consulate and Honorary Consuls in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
The Cabinet approved the establishment of Honorary Consulate in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where consulate jurisdiction covers Kyrgyz, and appointed Mr. Fazil Ahundov as Honorary Consul in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as proposed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) January 12, 2016--