The Cabinet met on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at a cabinet retreat held in Chanthaburi province. Some of the resolutions of the meeting are as follows:
The Cabinet approved in principle the draft People financial institutions Act, B.E.... as proposed by Ministry of Finance, and ordered for the bill to be submitted to Office of the Council of State for consideration before forwarding to National Legislative Assembly to deliberate. The cabinet also acknowledged a plan to develop secondary legislations, timeframe and framework of the above Act.
1. Establish People Financial Institution Development Committee with the tasks to propose policies and guidelines for the development of people financial institutions to the cabinet, as well as oversee, monitor and promote People financial institutions in accordance with the Draft Act.
2. Appoint coordinating banks to provide support, and assistance in the establishment of people financial institutions, as well as to monitor and evaluate policy implementation, and measures relating to people financial institutions.
3. People financial institutions can be established upon the approval of the Financial Institution Development Committee, and will be registered as a corporate entity. The purpose is to promote community-based financial services.
4. People financial institution committees are to be set up to administer respective people financial institutions.
5. Funds or assets of people financial institutions are raised from the money invested and deposited by the members.
6. People financial institutions will provide community-based financial services to their members in order to develop knowledge, quality of life, and welfare of the members and people in respective community.
7. People financial institutions are required to prepare and disclose statement of financial status and annual performance report within 150 days after the end of each year.
The Cabinet approved Draft Ministerial Regulation on fees for fishing vessels registration and exemption of license renewal fees for commercial fishing vessels, B.E…. as proposed by Ministry of Transport as follows:
1. Registration fees for commercial fishing vessels
1.1 Steam and motorboat license issued for the first time and renewal of license: 20-1,300 baht a year.
1.2 Other types of license except steam and motor boats issued for the first time and renewal of license: 20-500 Baht per year.
2. The license renewal fee is waived for commercial fishing vessels of which the license expires before March 31, 2018, and applies for a renewal before or within the aforementioned date.
The Cabinet agreed to the proposals made by Ministry of Industry as follows:
1. Approved for Ministry of Industry, SME Bank, and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to implement the project “Greening Industry through Low Carbon Technology Application for SMEs”
2. Agreed with the draft confirmation letter for project implementation to be sent to UNIDO
3. Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Industry is authorized as signatory of the confirmation letter.
Ministry of Industry, in collaboration with SME Bank, and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have implemented the Greening Industry through Low Carbon Technology Application for SMEs.
Department of Industrial Promotion is assigned to run the project as a whole, while the SME Bank is to provide loan services to SMEs to improve their machineries. UNIDO will manage the project, and provide necessary supports. The project consists of 3 elements as follows:
1. Analyze and improve policies to promote the use of low carbon technology in SMEs in Thailand
2. Capacity Building and implementation of low carbon technology projects in Thailand’s SMEs Industry
3. Monitoring and evaluation
The Cabinet acknowledged directions on Eastern development under the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan, as proposed by Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) as followed:
1. Overview - Eastern Region consists of 8 provinces: Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri and Sa Kaeo, covering 7.1% of the total area of the country, and 7.5% in population. The region’s economy is driven by industry, tourism, special economic zones, and is the country important food production source. However, recent industrial development has caused some pollution problems, such as air pollution, waste and water pollution. In addition, city expansion has increased the demand for water usage, and has caused shortage of labor in agriculture and industry.
2. Concepts and Directions – The Eastern region plays an important role in mobilizing national development. It is an industrial heartland where deep-sea ports and international airport are located. The region is also part of the Southern Economic Corridor, and Southern Coastal Economic corridor, connecting Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with ASEAN and the rest of the world. The eastern region is also a major source of food, and a popular tourist destination. Development of the region must, therefore, be built upon an existing economic base of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and others by using innovation, technologies, creativity, trade, and services, as well as the region’s abundance in natural resources, and potentials of local research institutes. The goal is to promote the Eastern region as a strategic area to drive Thailand’s development, and move the country through the middle income trap.
3. Plan / project - Ministries and concerned agencies propose plans / projects to promote the development direction of the Eastern region under the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan (B.E. 2560-2564) as follows:
3.1 Develop Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to become the most advanced special economic zone in the ASEAN region: projects under the plan are such as high-speed train connecting three airports, Eastern Innovative Urban Development Project under EEC, motor vehicle testing center, promotion of electric vehicles production in Thailand, industrial estate development under EEC, Smart Park Industrial Estate, Coastal Terminal A in Laem Chabang Port, Phase III of Map Ta Phut Industrial Port Development Project, Industrial Park and Digital Innovation (Digital Park Thailand)
3.2 Develop the Eastern Region as source of quality food: through various projects, such as Center for Innovation in Agriculture, prototype food and smart farm, STI for Smart Agriculture.
3.3 Improve standards of tourism products and services: projects under the plan are such as development of potential tourism attractions in Chachoengsao province, "Bike for All" project, development of high-value service businesses (food businesses, health services, senior care and physiotherapist), construction / engineering and digital content businesses, restoration and development of national museums.
3.4 Develop border economic zone as an economic gateway connecting neighboring countries for sustainable growth, projects under the plan are such as construction of toll way no. 348 in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo, routes A1, B and C1, Trat city planning, expansion of border trade and special economic zones, promotion of border trades among provinces in the Eastern region.
3.5 Resolve natural resources related problems and enhance pollution management efficiency, projects under the plan are such as improvement and construction of water sources, efficiency enhancement of waste water collection and treatment program in Pattaya, Naklua, and Banglamung, Chonburi provinces
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) February 06, 2018--