The Cabinet met on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
The Cabinet acknowledged Bank of Thailand’s Financial Sector Master Plan Phase III (2016-2020) as proposed by Ministry of Finance, and ordered the Ministry, through the Bank of Thailand,to also consider Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP)'s suggestions.
1. Bank of Thailand and concerned agencies are to set up key performance indicators (KPI) for implementation evaluation of the Financial Sector Master Plan Phase III.
2. Bank of Thailand is to follow up and report the implementation progress of the Financial Sector Master Plan Phase III to Minister of Finance once every 6 months.
Financial Sector Master Plan Phase III consists of the following key policies: 1. Promotion of Digitization & Efficiency; 2. Regionalization; 3. Access to financial services; and 4. Enablers.
The Cabinet agreed to the proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
1. Agreed in principle to the 4th Nuclear Security Summit Communique (2016), and 5 Draft Action Plans Annex. Should there be any amendment in wording of the aforementioned documents,which is not against the principle of the documents, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to proceed without any further approval from the cabinet.
2. Prime Minister is appointed as head of Thai delegation to endorse the Draft Communique and the Draft Action Plan (without signing) at the 4th Nuclear Security Summit at Washington, USA during March 31- April 1, 2016.
Draft Nuclear Security Summit Communique (2016)is aimed to raise awareness of nuclear threats, and to mobilize tangible and sustainable nuclear security development. Focus is made on the importance of related Convention and Covenant on nuclear reduction, anti-nuclear expansion, nuclear for peace, control and prevention of nuclear devices smuggling, and promotion ofinternational and concerned network and collaboration. The Communique also stipulates joint agreement to implement according to the Action Plan.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Commerce as follows:
1. Acknowledged the component of Thai delegation at the4th Joint Trade Committee (JTC) between Thailand and Iraq
2. Agreed in principle on trade and economic cooperation aspects to be discussed with Iraq, which Minister of Commerce is touse as framework for the 4th Joint Trade Committee Meetingbetween Thailand and Iraq.
3. Should there be any agreement on trade and economic cooperation in other aspects, which leads to mutual benefits on trade and economic cooperation between Thailand and Iraq, without anywritten agreement or document, Ministry of Commerce and Thai delegation attended the event, is authorized to proceed without any further approval from the cabinet.
4. Minister of Commerce or his representative is authorized to endorse outcome of the JTC meeting and other related documents (if any).
Gist of the matter
1. The 4th Joint Trade Committee Meeting between Thailand and Iraq is a ministerial meeting, co-chaired by Thai Commerce Minister and Iraqi Trade Minister. The meeting has been held three times. Thailand is to host the 4th JTC Meeting during March 28-29, 2016 at Ministry of Commerce.
2. Economic cooperation: Discussion on promotion oftrade and economic cooperation in the fields of mutual interest. The fields that Iraq requested to collaborate with Thailand at the 3rd JTC meeting were agriculture, banking, public health, housing construction, auction participation, investment, public utilities, waterwork, waste water treatment, economic development planning and infrastructure planning, science, culture, education and information. Concerned agencies in Thailand are to cooperate and consider appropriate framework for each area of cooperationproposed by Iraq.
3. Expected benefits: To create and expand opportunity for the increase of trade value with the Middle East countries,especially for such potential products as rice, canned and processed fruits and vegetables, rubber and plastic products, gems and jewelry, footwear, washing machine, paper and other exporting goods. Promotion of economic, trade and investment cooperation will also boost closer ties between Thailand and Iraq.
The Cabinet agreed to the proposals made by Ministry of Finance, and ordered Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue instrument of ratification for the Protocol on the Legal Framework to Implement the ASEAN Single Window, and submit to the ASEAN Secretariat.
??Gist of the matter
1. On March 21, 2016, Former Finance Minister Sommai Phaseeendorsed the Draft Protocol on Legal Framework to Implement the ASEAN Single Window which is the legal framework forcommunication and transaction electronic processing betweenNational Single Window system of ASEAN member states.The Customs Department has published the Protocol onwww.thainsw.net and www.customs.go.th to allow public and stakeholders to get access to the details of the Protocol in advance before it takes effect.
2. The signature is subject to ratification. The Protocol will take effect after all member states notify or submit instrument of ratification for the Protocol to ASEAN Secretariat. As of now, all 10 ASEAN countries signed the Protocol on September 4, 2015 (Indicative time is on March 2, 2016).
The Cabinet agreed to the proposals made by Ministry of Transport as follows:
1. Agreed in principle to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on May 29, 2013 between Thailand and the Republic of Korea, and the Draft Exchange of Notes between Thailand and the Republic of Korea.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assigned to proceed with the Exchange of Notes in order to confirm the effective date of the MOU. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to amend the wording, if not affecting gist of the document.
Ministry of Transport reported that Thailand and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) signed an Agreement on Air Transport Services on July 7, 1967, and has had meetings on a regular basis since. Both parties agreed on May 28-29, 2013 in Seoul to improve traffic rights and the Agreement on Air Transport Services between Thailand and the Republic of Korea. Memorandum of Understanding was signed on May 29, 2013.
The Cabinet approved proposal made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the proposal of the government of Islamic Republic of the Gambia to open the Embassy of Islamic Republic of the Gambia in Thailand.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) March 22, 2016 --