The Cabinet met on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
The Cabinet authorized the Metropolitan Electricity Authority to proceed in accordance with the revised plan to undertake its adjustments to put Bangkok’s overhead power lines and cables underground. The adjustments include an expansion from 1 to 3 projects, and they are:
I. Project Pathumwan Chitralada and Phyathai,
II. Project Praram 3,
III. and Project Nonsi.
The entire project is expected to complete by 2022.
The Cabinet agreed in principle to the proposals made by the Prime Minister as Chairman of the Integrated Provincial Administrative Committee (IPAC) as follows:
1. Provincial Development Plans (76 provinces), and Provincial Cluster Development Plans (18 provincial clusters) (B.E. 2561-2564)
2. Annual Provincial Operational Plans (76 provinces), and Annual Provincial Cluster Operational Plans (18 provincial clusters) as well as the budget request for 76 provinces and 18 provincial clusters for the fiscal year 2018.
Provincial Development Plans (76 provinces), and Provincial Cluster Development Plans (18 provincial clusters) are in accordance with the 20-year National Strategy, national visions, government’s policies, 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan, as well as other Development Plans and the Prime Minister’s orders. The aforementioned Plans are developed in line with potentials, opportunities, problems and needs of each province and provincial cluster.
The Cabinet acknowledged Community Based Tourism Strategic Plan B.E. 2559-2563 as proposed by Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and ordered concerned agencies to proceed accordingly.
1st Strategy: To improve quality, skills and abilities of human resources in the community for community-based tourism management on the basis of sufficiency and knowledge
2nd Strategy: To create value of human resources, and promote community participation into learning resources and community-based tourism management at all levels
3rd Strategy: To develop community-based tourism management by balancing happiness of both the community and tourists
4th Strategy: To develop management mechanisms and integration on the basis of People Public Private Partnership (PPPP)
5th Strategy: To develop happiness index of the community and tourists
The Cabinet agreed on the Joint Press Statement for the official visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar of Deputy Minister Somkid Jatusripitak during February 2-3, 2017, as proposed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Should there be any amendment on the draft Statement, if not against the principle the Cabinet has approved, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to proceed and later inform the Cabinet about the aforementioned amendments.
Draft Joint Press Statement underscores bilateral cooperation between the two nations, which aims to speed up, develop and/or push forward issues of mutual interests. Main topics to be discussed during the visit are as follows:
1. Partnership for development: Both nations will promote and elevate bilateral relations, especially on trade and investment, and other development projects
2. To promote connectivity between two nations, and speed up mechanisms related to mobilization of Dawei Special Economic Zone
3. Various economic cooperation
The Cabinet agreed and approved proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
1. Agreed on the Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Regarding the Development of Emergency Department at Dewei General Hospital. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting the gist of document or against the benefits of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to proceed without further approval from the Cabinet.
2. Director General of the International Cooperation Agency is authorized to endorse the Draft MOU.
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue Full Powers to Director-General of the International Cooperation Agency or his representative to endorse the aforementioned MOU.
The MOU specifies framework and responsibilities of the government of Thailand and Myanmar regarding the development of Emergency Department at Dawei General Hospital to enhance capacity in caring emergency patients. Work plan under the MOU includes:
1) To build emergency and related buildings
2) To procure medical equipment for Dawei General Hospital
3) To organize short training programs and fieldtrips for personnel of Dawei General Hospital and related public health workers
The Cabinet agreed on proposals made by Ministry of Transport as follows:
1. Agreed in principle to provide assistance to Myanmar on reparing route Endu-Thaton in Myanmar. The Department of Highways is ordered to proceed and discuss with Ministry of Finance and the Bureau of Budget on proper direction of assistance.
2. Agreed in principle on pushing forward negotiation on Initial Implementation of the Cross-Border Transport Agreement (IICBTA) at Mae Sot – Myawaddy border crossing point to settle the agreement within 2 months
Myanmar is in the process of road repair along East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) in a bid to accommodate economic expansion in the country and in the Greater Mekong Subregion, especially a route connecting Kawkareik-Endu-Hpa-An-Thaton- Phayayee-Yangon. Improvement of section Kawkareik-Thaton (with a total distance of 67 kilometres) is to be completed in 2019 whereas the Endu-Thaton section, with a total distance of 60 kilometres, needs to be repaired to meet ASEAN highway standard. Thai government’s assistance on the repair project will facilitate road transport between Thailand and Myanmar, thereby reducing transport cost. The assistance will be in line with Greater Mekong Sub-region Cross-border Transport Agreement (GMS CBTA).
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) January 31, 2017 --