The Cabinet met on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
The Cabinet approved for State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to implement construction project of 2 dual-track rail routes with a construction period of 5 years as proposed by Ministry of Transport as follows:
1. Nakorn Pathom – Hua Hin
2. Hua Hin – Prachuap Kiri Khan
Ministry of Transport (State Railway of Thailand) requested for approval on implementation of construction project of dual-track rail routes from Nakorn Pathom – Hua Hin and Hua Hin – Prachuap Khiri Khan, which are the projects under Thailand's Transport Infrastructure Development Strategy B.E. 2558-2565, aiming to enhance efficiency of railway services, to support increasing passengers and freight transport, to decrease traveling and freight transport time, as well as to enhance competitiveness of key tourist destinations in the Southern and upper Southern region.
It is the construction of an additional track in parallel with existing tracks and new train stations and renovation of the existing ones, a total of 27 stations from Nakorn Pathum – Hua Hin (165 kilometers) and 13 stations from Hua Hin – Prachaup Khiri Khan (90 kilometers).
The Cabinet approved for State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to implement construction project of a dual-track rail route Lopburi - Paknampho with a construction period of 6 years as proposed by Ministry of Transport as follows:
Ministry of Transport (State Railway of Thailand) requested for approval on implementation of construction project of dual-track rail routes Lopburi - Paknampho, which is project under Thailand's Transport Infrastructure Development Strategy B.E. 2558-2565, aiming to enhance efficiency of railway services, support increasing passengers and freight transport, as well as decrease traveling and freight transport time.
It is the construction of an additional rail track in parallel with existing rail tracks (116 kilometers), and the construction of 2 dual-track rail route bypassing Lopburi city center (32 kilometers), with a total distance of 148 kilometers. The project will include construction of new train stations and renovation of existing ones, with a total of 21 stations.
The Cabient approved proposals made by Ministry of Transport as follows:
1. Approved on preparation and signing of the Agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia on the construction of new Border Crossing Bridge at Nong Ian-Stung Bot. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting gist of the document or against the benefits of Thailand, Ministry of Transport is to discuss with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, without any further approval from the Cabinet.
2. Minister of Transport or his representative is assigned as signatory of Thailand and has authority to appoint concerned committee in accordance with the aforementioned Agreement.
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue Full Powers to the signatory in 2.
The Draft Agreement specifies details related to construction of Border Crossing Bridge. As for the location, for Thailand will be in Nong Ian, Tha Kam, Aranya Pathet, Sa Kaeo province, and for Cambodia, it will be in Stung Bot, Poi Pet, Banteay Meanchey province. Thailand will be responsible for expenditures related to the design and construction of the project, with the exception of land ownership allocation costs, tax and fees in Cambodia. Cambodia will procure the locations for offices and residences for the project in Cambodia, as well as other public utilities.
The Cabinet approved in principle the proposals made by Ministry of Public Health on extension of stay in the Kingdom of Thailand for a period of 90 days for patients and entourage from CLMV countries and People’s Republic of China to receive healthcare services in Thailand. Ministry of Interior is to make announcement based on the Cabinet’s resolution accordingly.
The 5/2016 Meetings of the Thailand Promotion and Development Board on June 3, 2016, co-chaired by Minister of Public Health and Minister of Tourism and Sports, agreed on extension of stay in the Kingdom of Thailand for a period of 90 days for patients and entourage from CLMV countries and People’s Republic of China to receive healthcare services in Thailand. It aims to help facilitate and promote medical tourism in accordance with the government’s policy on promoting Thailand as Medical Hub.
The Cabinet agreed on proposals made by Ministry of Interior on the endorsement of New Delhi Declaration and the Asian Regional Plan under the Sendai Framework for the 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi, Republic of India
1. Draft New Delhi Declaration reflects political intentions of Asia Pacific countries, attending the 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction, to support operations under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in a bid to encourage governments and all stakeholders to develop their policies based on the understanding of all dimensions of risks, including vulnerability, potentiality, and exposure on individual and assets, characteristics of disaster and surroundings.
2. The Asian Regional Plan under the Sendai Framework specifies
(1) executive policies;
(2) long-term planning under the Sendai Framework within a period of 15 years;
(3) biannual operational plans from 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2028 and 2030, with a comprehensive evaluation through implementation of activities with concrete goals and in accordance with 4 missions:
(1) Understanding the risks;
(2) Risk management;
(3) Investment for risk reduction; and
(4) Preparation and improvement.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as follows:
1. Agreed on the Adelaide 3R Declaration towards the Promotion of Circular Economy in Achieving the Resource Efficient Societies in Asia and the Pacific under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the Seventh Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific
2. Deputy Director-General of Pollution Control Department or representative who is authorized as head of Thai delegation is to endorse the aforementioned Declaration.
3. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting the gist of document or against the benefits of Thailand, the head of Thai delegation is authorized to consider, without any further approval from the Cabinet until the last day of the meeting on November 4, 2016 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
The Adelaide 3R Declaration recognizes the importance of integrated cooperation from all concerned, i.e., public, private, people sectors, and tripartite cooperation, to sustainable business opportunities, which may ultimately lead to the transformation of Linear Economy into resource-efficient economy. It also aims to recognize the importance of the 3R and Science, Technology and Innovation in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) November 1, 2016 --