The Cabinet met on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The Cabinet approved in principle Draft Royal Decree Issued under Revenue Code on Revenue Exemption (B.E…) (Exemption of personal income tax for non-Thais with disability), as proposed by Ministry of Finance, and ordered it to be forwarded to Office of the Council of State for their review.
1. Exemption of personal income tax (for income not exceeding 190,000 Baht/year) for non-Thais with disabilities, aged 65 or younger, who obtained disability certificate issued by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
2. Only income received from January 1, 2017 onward will be eligible for the above tax privilege.
The Cabinet agreed with the proposals made by Ministry of Finance as follows:
1. Implementation framework of Thai People Housing Project
2. Government’s Housing Bank and Government’s Saving Bank is to categorize the project under “Public Service Account (PSA)”
Ministry of Finance has selected eight plots of government surplus land in four regions to implement the 2nd phase of the scheme.
1. Duplex house with a minimum floor area of 28 square meters
2. Townhouse with a minimum floor area of 28 square meters
3. Condominium with a minimum floor area of 28 square meters
Target groups (land ownership approved in order of the following priorities):
1. People registered with the Ministry of Finance under the state welfare scheme
2. People with income of less than 35,000 per month
3. Public (no subsidy of interest rates)
Loan measures: Total budget of 4,000 million baht
(1) Pre-Finance Mortgage by Government’s Housing Bank and Government’s Saving Bank with interest rate of 3% per year during the grace period of three years, and MLR of less than 1% a year for 5-year mortgage
(2) Post Finance Mortgage with the interest rate of 2.75% per year during the grace period of four years.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
1. Approved a five-year action plan under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Framework (2018-2022) and the draft Phnom Penh Declaration to be deliberated at the 2nd Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders' Meeting. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting the gist of documents or against the benefits of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to proceed without further approval from the Cabinet.
2. Prime Minister or his representative is authorized as head of the Thai delegation.
1. Five-year Action Plan (2018-2022)
1.1 To reflect mutual intention among six member countries in the Mekong-Lancang regions, which are China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, to develop a five-year action plan in accordance with Sanya Declaration. The aim is to enhance economic and social growth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, to improve people’s quality of life, reduce the development gap, and promote peace in the community.
1.2 There are five priority areas under the Action Plan: connectivity, cross-border economic, water resources, enhancement of production and agricultural capacity, and poverty reduction.
2. Phnom Penh Declaration
2.1 Establishment of tangible institutional mechanisms, namely, cooperation center on water resources and environment, GMS Studies Center, operation of Mekong–Lancang Special Fund, National Secretariat Office of the Mekong- Lancang /Temporary liaison office. The Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Framework will focus on open collaboration and participation in accordance with ASEAN Community establishment, the ASEAN-China Cooperation Framework, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and other regional cooperation mechanisms.
The Cabinet approved the proposals made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Kyrgyzstan's request to establish an Honorary Consulate of the Kyrgyz Republic in Thailand, and appointed Ms. Prim Jitcharoongphorn as Honorary Consul.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) January 3, 2018--