The Cabinet met on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved in principle the following proposals made by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:
1. Approved in principle the 20-Year Mineral Resource Management Strategy (2017-2036), and Master Plan on Mineral Resource Management (2017-2021). Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is to take the opinions of Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Commerce, and Office of the Board of Investment into consideration and proceed accordingly.
2. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, through Department of Mineral Resources, was ordered to expedite establishment of the new National Policy Committee for Mineral Resource Management, and propose opinions of National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), and Cabinet Secretariat to the newly-appointed National Policy Committee for Mineral Resource Management for its consideration in amending the 20-Year Mineral Resource Management Strategy (2017-2036), and Master Plan on Mineral Resource Management (2017-2021). This is to be in accordance with the Mineral Act, B.E. 2017, and the national strategy (2018-2037). Participation of stakeholders in all related process is also mandated by the cabinet.
The cabinet approved the following proposals:
1. Approved the upgrade of Ban Huag Temporary Checkpoint in Phu Sang district, Phayao province to a permanent Checkpoint for Border Trade.
2. Ministry of Justice was ordered to collaborate with Ministry of Interior and other concerned agencies to include establishment of a liaison office to address narcotics problem along the border area in the management plan for the upgrade of Ban Huag Temporary Checkpoint in Phu Sang district, Phayao province to a permanent Checkpoint for Border Trade
3. Ministry of Interior and concerned agencies are to proceed accordingly to promote tourism, trade and investment, transport cultural and ethnic connectivity among Mekong sub-regional countries.
4. In the case that there is a need for any construction or organization of an event along the border area, concerned agencies are required to liaise with the Royal Thai Armed Forces, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs beforehand.
5. Environmental impact assessment has to be conducted for the implementation of the next phase of building and road construction
The cabinet approved FY2017budget (contingency budget) for the amount of 468,912,800 Baht for the implementation of 47 water source rehabilitation projects (collaboration between Royal Thai Army and Utokapat Foundation Under the Royal Patronage) in 9 provinces, that is, Phrae, Phayao, Phichit, Sukhothai, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Burirum, Prajinburi, and Phathalung. This is as proposed by Ministry of Defense.
The cabinet approved the following proposals made by Ministry of Commerce:
1. Approved Thailand’s position for the 3rd Thailand-Vietnam Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting.
2. Should there be any economic and trade agreement other than what stipulated in Thailand’s position in 1, and without a written agreement nor contract, Ministry of Commerce and Thai representatives are authorized to proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet.
3. Approved Minister of Commerce or a representative to endorse the 3rd Thailand-Vietnam Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting outcome and other related documents (if any).
The 3rd Thailand-Vietnam Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting will be hosted by Vietnam on August 2-3, 2018. The aim of the meeting is to discuss possible approaches to achieve mutual trade value of USD20 billion within 2020, and resolutions to trade-related problems to promote trade facilitations between the two countries.
The cabinet approved the proposal made by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon for Ministry of Defense to provide annual subsidy for the amount of USD35,000 to ASEAN Center of Military Medicine from FY2018 onward.
The approval was made based on the outcome of ASEAN Center of Military Medicine’s executive meeting held on August 2-4, 2016 which stipulates that each ASEAN member country subsidize the Center for the amount of USD35,000 on an annual basis.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) July 31, 2018--