The Cabinet met on Tuesday August 22, 2017, at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The Cabinet acknowledged and agreed with the proposals made by National Water Resource Board as follows:
1. Acknowledged results of the 2/2017 meeting of National Water Resources Board on August 9, 2017.
2. Acknowledged and agreed to specify 8 areas, covering 18 provinces, to be included in the area-based flood and drought management plan for the Northeastern region:
1) Lower Loei Basin,
2) Huai Luang Basin,
3) Song Kram River Basin,
4) Pung – Nam Kam Basin,
5) Upper Chi Basin,
6) Central Chi River Basin,
7) Upper Mun Basin, and
8) Lower Mun Basin.
3. Authorized the Royal Irrigation Department, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and Department of Water Resources to request for additional budget of 8,820 million baht under FY2018 to implement 348 projects, covering ??549,700 rai.
4.Approved for National Water Resources Board’s secretariat to compile long-term projects and plans (2020-2026) of all relevant government agencies that aim to address flood and drought in the Northeast.
5.Acknowledged solutions to waterway blockage as proposed by National Water Resources Board’s secretariat for all agencies to undertake and complete by November 2017.
The Cabinet approved draft Detailed Design Services Agreement on Bangkok – Nong Khai high-speed rail system development for regional connectivity (1st Phase: Bangkok- Nakorn Ratchasima) for the budget of 1,706.771 million Baht as proposed by Ministry of Transport. Ministry of Transport and related agencies are to proceed in accordance with the Cabinet’s resolution on July 11, 2017 (on approval for the implementation of Bangkok – Nong Khai high-speed rail system development for regional connectivity project (1st Phase: Bangkok- Nakorn Ratchasima).
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
1. Agreed in principle draft Busan Declaration to be endorsed at the 8th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC FMM), together with the annexes: NEW FEALAC Action Plan and FEALAC Troika-Operational Modalities. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting gist of the document or against the benefit of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to proceed accordingly.
2. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs is authorized as head of Thai delegation and signatory.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that South Korea, as Coordinator of the East Asian region for 2015-2017, is to host the 8th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC FMM), and Working Group’s Meeting during August 29-31, 2017 in Busan. Busan Declaration and it annexes, NEW FEALAC Action Plan and FEALAC Troika-Operational Modalities, will be endorsed at the meeting.
Draft Busan Declaration aims to reflect intentions of FEALAC’s member countries in seeking common position between East Asia and Latin America to cope with emerging world challenges, and to welcome various initiatives under the FEALAC framework, such as New FEALAC Action Plan, Troika system and the establishment of FEALAC Fund.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
1. Agreed with the draft Protocol of the 2nd Session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Czech Republic
2. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs or his representative is authorized as signatory.
3. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting gist of the document or against principles the Cabinet has agreed, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Thai delegation is authorized to proceed and later inform the Cabinet accordingly.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Thailand will host the 2nd Session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Czech Republic during August 21-23, 2017, which will be co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Czech Deputy Minister Industry and Trade Mr. Vladim?r B?rtl. The Draft Protocol of the 2nd Session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Czech Republic will be signed on August 23, 2017. Gist of the Draft document is to strengthen bilateral cooperation between two nations in economic relation, investment, academic cooperation, cooperation on environment, geology and mining, energy, industry 4.0, tourism, agriculture, trilateral cooperation, etc.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Interior as follows:
1. Approved the guidelines for the minutes of the 6th meeting of border provincial governors between Thailand and Cambodia. Should there be any amendment in the Draft Minutes, if not affecting gist of the document or against the benefit of Thailand, Ministry of Interior is authorized to proceed and later inform the Cabinet accordingly.
2. Minister of Interior is authorized as signatory. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue Full Powers to the aforementioned signatory.
Ministry of Interior reported that Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Thailand and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia agreed on the 6th meeting of border provincial governors between Thailand and Cambodia, to be hosted by Cambodia during ??August 23-25, 2017 in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. The Draft Minutes will cover 15 issues for cooperation:
(1) Implementation of cross-border agreements,
(2) border trade and investment cooperation,
(3) Transport,
(4) Selling of agricultural products by local people along the border,
(5) Labor cooperation,
(6) Border crossing point management,
(7) Public health and community development,
(8) Cross-border electricity transmission,
(9) Disaster management,
(10) Illegal deforestation,
(11) Crime prevention and suppression at the border,
(12) Tourism,
(13) Implementation of projects under ACMECS Cooperation Framework,
(14) Provincial and local-level cooperation mechanisms,
(15) Others.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
1. Approved Draft Letter of Intent between the government of Thailand and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to reflect intention for cooperation on Country Programme (CP). Prime Minister's Office minister Suvit Maesincee is authorized as signatory. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to amend the document as appropriate.
2. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board is approved as main agency to implement the Country Programme under Prime Minister's Office’s supervision in accordance with Prime Minister’s order.
The Country Programme (CP) aims to strengthen integrated cooperation between Thailand and OECD over the next 2-3 years, consisting of 4 main pillars:
(1) Governance & Transparency,
(2) Business Climate & Competitiveness,
(3) Thailand 4.0,
(4) Inclusive Growth.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) August 22, 2017--