The Cabinet met on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
The Cabinet agreed on proposals made by Ministry of Finance as follows:
1. The Cabinet agreed in principle to the Grassroots Economic Empowerment Projects based on the People’s State Policy, and approved implementation budget of 35 billion Baht. It also ordered the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and National Village and Urban Community Fund Office to work together on allocation of fund. Operational fund for the projects will be under the consideration of Bureau of the Budget.
2. The Cabinet ordered National Village and Urban Community Fund Office and its Committee to implement the projects in line with its objectives and responsibilities as stipulated in
National Village and Urban Community Fund Act, B.E. 2547. The Office, in collaboration with Ministry of Interior and concerned agencies, should take community’s potentials into account in allocating fund. The Cabinet also ordered National Village and Urban Community Fund Office to prepare clear action plan, submit to the National Economic and Investment Stimulation Steering Committee for the follow up.
Ministry of Finance reported that agricultural sector has suffered from a wide range of problems such as natural disasters, high production costs, falling prices, etc., due to underdeveloped infrastructure and lack of essential production factors. Therefore, investment in infrastructure for grassroots economic empowerment, covering production-related activities, value-added of products, and marketing schemes, will contribute to strong community development. Ministry of Finance, thus, has come up with Grassroots Economic Empowerment projects based on People’s State policy. The detail is as follows:
Subject/Contents
Target groups
- The government will provide financial support to 79, 556 villages and urban communities (up to 500,000 Baht each) through National Village and Urban Community Fund Office for a total budget of 35 billion Baht
Objective
- To invest in infrastructure projects in the community such as community silo, agricultural crops drying plant, community mill, community fertilizer production facilities, water reserve construction, and machinery for agricultural crops processing, etc., and to implement other activities from which the community will be benefited in a bid to increase productivity and improve quality of life. Fund operation will be determined by Fund Committee in each community.
Project period
- Disbursement must be done within 6 months after the budget is allocated
Financial resources
- A total budget is 35 billion Baht
The Cabinet agreed to the Draft Joint Agreement on Technical Assistance of Sewage Technology in Collaboration with Public and Private Sectors in Thailand between Wastewater Management Authority of Thailand and Saitama Prefectural Government Bureau of Public Sewerage works (SAITAMA) under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The Wastewater Management Authority of Thailand is authorized to endorse the draft document.
1. Targeted country/region: Thailand’s local administrations
2. Objective: Thailand’s wastewater treatment and wastewater technology will be developed and widely transferred.
3. Project operator: SAITAMA (Japan) and Wastewater Management Authority of Thailand (Thailand)
The Draft Agreement will take effect from the date of signing for three years.
The Cabinet agreed on proposals made by Ministry of Commerce as follows:
1. The Cabinet agreed to the Draft Trade Agreement between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand
2. Minister of Commerce or his representative is authorized to endorse the Draft Trade Agreement between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand in Thai, English and Farsi. The signatory is authorized to amend the draft documents in three languages where necessary, if not affecting gist of the document or the benefits of Thailand, without submitting to the Cabinet for further consideration.
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue the Full Power for Minister of Commerce or his representative.
1. Objective: To promote, facilitate and develop economic and trade cooperation between two nations in accordance with laws and regulations of each country.
2. Partners in the Agreement will provide trade facilitation in various aspects to each other, such as trade exhibition participation, establishment of trade office or center under the collaboration of between Chambers of Commerce, and exchange of trade representative.
3. Partners agree to appoint a Joint Trade Committee, consisting of representatives from related agencies of both nations, to monitor and review progress of the Agreement and identify new opportunities to expand trade relations between the two countries.
4. The draft Agreement shall not limit the rights of each partner in implementing any bans or restrictions in a bid to uphold public integrity and protect lives and health of human, flora and fauna, as well as to protect public property and/or prevent diseases and pest of animals and plants.
5. Dispute resolution approaches are through discussion and negotiation between partners.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Public Health as follows:
1. The Cabinet approved Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Public Health of Thailand and Ministry of Public Health of Oman on public health cooperation
2. Minister of Foreign Affairs or his representative is authorized to endorse the MOU. The signatory is authorized to amend the draft documents where necessary, if not affecting gist of the document, without submitting to the Cabinet for further consideration.
1. To promote and develop cooperation on public health in various aspects such as primary health care, human resources development, drug regulation, research and development on medical and public health, disease control, oral health care, emergency medical system for kidney disease and disaster management, medical tourism and etc. as well as technical exchange between Thailand and Oman
2.To support the exchange of training curriculum and visiting of experts, and conducting scientific research on cooperative fields
3.Financial management, including expenses for cooperative activities under the MOU, will be conducted on a case-by-case basis based on the capability in securing capital and resources.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) January 26, 2016--