The Cabinet met on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
The Cabinet agreed on proposals made by Ministry of Public Health as follows:
1. Agreed on Strategic Plan on Thailand Antimicrobial Resistance Management B.E. 2560-2564 as a national strategy
2. Ministry of Public Health is assigned to cooperate with Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and other concerned agencies to develop an action plan on Thailand Antimicrobial Resistance Management B.E. 2560-2564
3. Concerned agencies, such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Educaiton, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance, are assigned to implement the plan according to their respective strategy.
It is Thailand’s first strategic plan that aims to combat antimicrobial resistance, and to demonstrate Thailand’s commitment to resolve the problem at a global level. This will also help enhance the country’s image at the High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance under the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which will be held on September 21, 2016. The Strategic Plan consists of 6 strategies.
The Cabinet approved Statement of Intent to commence a process for the development of Free Trade Agreement with Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as proposed by Ministry of Commerce.
Ministry of Commerce reported that
1. The development of FTA with EAEU will help minimize trade barriers with EAEU member states and increase investment opportunities, which, as a result, will promote growth in exports between Thailand and EAEU, improve people’s quality of life, increase employments, consumption, investment, as well as boost government spending, although import activities may decrease a little.
2. Economy of the Customs Union of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and Belarus still have great tendency to grow. Increase of a number of middle class in Russia is also good opportunity to promote Thailand’s export both in the middle and long runs.
3. FTA between Thailand and EAEU will give Thailand the following overall benefits:
1) Thailand’s economy is expected to grow by 0.0717% - 0.2029%. The differences in economic structure are ideal for an agreement on free trade.
2) Thai products, which are competitive in EAEU market, have higher values than the country’s sensitive products. Products expected to benefit are those in the fields of automotive and auto parts and steel products, whereas inorganic chemical products, fertilizers, and iron and steel might be impacted. Competitive trade and services are tourism. Construction service is one on the sensitive list.
3) EAEU can be Thailand’s channel of distribution to Central Asia.
The Cabinet agreed on proposals made by the Royal Thai Police as follows:
1. Agreed on the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Thai Police of the Kingdom of Thailand (RTP) and the National Agency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain (NCA) on Combating Transnational Crime and Police Cooperation.
2. Royal Thai Police’s Commissioner General or his representative is authorized to sign the aforementioned MOU.
3. Should there be any additional amendment in the future, if not affecting gist of the document, the Royal Thai Police is authorized to proceed without any further approval from the Cabinet.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Tourism and Sports to authorize Ministry of Foreign Affairs as acting patry to submit Instrument of Ratification on the Agreement on establishment of regional ASEAN Secretariat under the ASEAN Mutual Recognition arrangement on Tourism Professionals (ASEAN MRA-TP).
The aforementioned Agreement will take effect following the submission of Instrument of Ratification to the ASEAN Secretary General. The Secretariat will act as a liaison office for tourism professionals. Its responsibility includes registration system of ASEAN tourism professionals, trainings, certification program for instructors and reviewers, employment, counseling service, as well as organization of related events. This will help create a more effective tourism professional management system and upgrade tourism professionals in ASEAN, including Thailand, to an international standard.
The Cabinet approved the proposals made by Ministry of Commerce as follows:
1. The Cabinet agreed in principle on the framework on economic and trade cooperation for Minister of Commerce to discuss with Bhutan at the 1st Thailand-Bhutan Joint Trade Committee (JTC) Meeting;
2. Should the Meeting results in any other outcome on economic and trade cooperation, that will benefit economic and trade relations between Thailand and Bhutan, without issuance of an agreement or contract, Minister of Commerce and the Thai delegation can proceed without seeking another Cabinet’s consideration.
3. The Cabinet approved for Minister of Commerce or her representative to endorse the meeting outcome and other outcome documents resulting from discussion on specific cooperation (if any).
The framework on economic and trade cooperation include tourism, agriculture, and other aspects, e.g., public health, education, information technology, as well as regional cooperation, such as free trade agreement under BIMSTEC.
The Cabinet agreed and approved proposals made by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as follows:
1. Agreed in principle on Draft ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change at the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Draft ASEAN Joint Statement on Biological Diversity for the 13th Convention on Biological Diversity (COP13)
2. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (or his representative authorized by Miniter of Natural Resources and Environment) is to endorse these two draft ASEAN Joint Statements.
3. Should there be any amendment in wordings of the two Draft ASEAN Joint Statements, if not affecting gist of the document or the benefits of Thailand, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is authorized to endorse accordingly.
The Cabinet approved proposal made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the proposal of the Government of Sudan to establish an Embassy of Republic of Sudan in Thailand.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) August 17, 2016 --