The Cabinet met on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved in principle draft Ministerial Regulation, No…. (B.E….) issued under the provision of the Revenue Code on Revenue Tax Exemption (Revision of tax measure to promote tourism and seminars in secondary provinces), as proposed by Ministry of Finance.
The draft Ministerial Regulation stipulates exemption of personal income tax for the following expenses:
1. Service fees paid to tourism service providers under Travel Agency and Tourist Guide Businesses Act for traveling in secondary provinces, or any other area approved by Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
2. Expenses paid for accommodations in secondary provinces (hotels, homestays, other non-hotel accommodations stipulated in item 1 of Ministerial Regulation on criteria for hotel business operation, B.E. 2551)
3. Taxpaers are entitled to deduction of personal income tax of up to 15,000 Baht for actual expenses paid during January 1- December 30, 2018.
The cabinet approved Thailand’s participation in Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP) under Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as proposed by Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. The Ministry was also ordered to abide by the Budget Bureau’s suggestion on payment of annual fee for CDEP participation.
According to Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, CDEP participation will provide better access for Thailand to OECD’s information, knowledge, and activities related to digital economy, and a network in digital economy. It will also boost confidence of the global community on Thailand, and may statistically contribute to the ranking of the country in various polls, such as economic competitiveness, which will further enhance the country’s image.
The cabinet approved the following proposals made by Ministry of Digital Economy and Society:
1. Approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Telecommunication, Information Technology and Digital Technology between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Finland. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist nor against the cabinet principle approval, the Ministry is authorized to proceed, and later inform the cabinet on the amendment.
2. Approved for Minister of Digital Economy and Society to sign the MOU. The signing will take place during the visit of Finland’s Minister of Economy to Thailand during August 20-23, 2018.
The MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Telecommunication, Information Technology and Digital Technology between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Finland is aimed to promote cooperation and exchange of information on ICT and digital technology between the two countries, especially on promotion and development of ICT and digital industry, cooperation on digital innovation, digital technology learning, and promotion of digital businesses among entrepreneurs.
The cabinet approved the following proposals made by Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment:
1. Approved Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade, focusing on Ivory, Rhino Horn, Tiger and Pangolins in Thailand Project
2. Approved for the Ministry, through Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, to sign the Project Document and Standard Letter of Agreement with a representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation applied for funding with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in its Sixth GEF Assembly with UNDP as GEF’s representative organization. The funding for the implementation of Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade, focusing on Ivory, Rhino Horn, Tiger and Pangolins in Thailand Project is approved for an amount of USD4,018,440.
The project on Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade, focusing on Ivory, Rhino Horn, Tiger and Pangolins in Thailand is aimed to eliminate illegal wildlife trade in Thailand, especially ivory rhino horn, tiger, and pangolins, through enhance law enforcement capacity, and implementing behavioral-change project for target groups in Nongkhai and Songkhla provinces.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) August 14, 2018--