The Cabinet met on Tuesday, December 25, 2018, at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved in principle the draft Royal Decree on implementation of mass transit project in Nakhon Ratchasima by Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, B.E. …, as proposed by Ministry of Transport, and ordered for it to be forwarded to Office of Council of State for deliberation, and for Ministry of Transport to take into consideration opinions of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Office of Economic and Social Development Board.
The cabinet approved the followings:
1. Approved in principle establishment of National Emergency Center, with the Royal Thai Police as the responsible agency.
2. The Royal Thai Police was ordered to:
a. Expedite establishment of National Emergency Center according to plan, and to conduct occasional evaluation in a bid to improve service efficiency.
b. Promote the campaign for wider awareness of the public, and work in an integrative manner with other concerned agencies, such as emergency medical centers, and fire command centers, in promptly providing help to the people.
c. In the future when the National Emergency Center operates in full force. The Royal Thai Police is to collaborate with concerned agencies in considering revoking use of other emergency numbers to lessen public confusion, and operation redundancy.
3. The Royal Thai Police was ordered to take opinions of Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of Justice into consideration in proceeding with the project implementation.
The goal of National Emergency Center establishment is to integrate emergency call centers under various agencies into one with the single number 191. The Center will also a hub of CCTV system throughout the country, both at provincial and regional levels.
The cabinet acknowledged Thailand’s endorsement of the draft Ministerial Declaration on Regional Cooperation for Space Applications for Sustainable Development, and Asia – Pacific Plan of Action on Space Applications for Sustainable Development (2018-2030), as proposed by Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
The draft Ministerial Declaration on Regional Cooperation for Space Applications for Sustainable Development has been approved by the cabinet on October 2, 2018. The following detail has been included:
1. Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, which is an integration of the Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs
2. Establishment of Center for Disaster Information Technology Development of the Asia-Pacific
3. Endorsing member states and associated members to empower women on the study of science and technology, space applications for sustainable development, and disaster risk reduction.
4. Facilitating implementation of the Asia – Pacific Plan of Action on Space Applications for Sustainable Development (2018-2030)
5. Stipulating ESCAP Secretariat to present a biennial report on application of space and geographical information system for sustainable development of the Asia Pacific.
6. Endorsing Space2030 Agenda under the Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs
The cabinet approved Thailand’s endorsement of the Product Specific Rules (PSRs) under ASEAN- China FTA, and proposed for National Legislative’s approval, as proposed by Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry is to collaborate with concerned agencies to take Product Specific Rules (PSRs) under ASEAN- China FTA into effect, while Department of Trade Negotiations is assigned to notify the cabinet’s endorsement of the Product Specific Rules (PSRs) under ASEAN- China FTA to ACFTA Joint Committee: ACFTA-JC.
Rules of Origin under ASEAN- China FTA is composed of 4 criteria:
1) goods that are wholly produced or obtained (WO),
2) General Rules,
3) Produced Exclusively (PE), and
4) Product Specific Rules (PSRs).
The cabinet approved the draft ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA), as proposed by Ministry of Commerce, and ordered for the document to be forwarded to National Legislative Assembly for futher approval. Minister of Commerce or a representative is authorized as signatory of the document. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist nor against national interests, the signatory is to use judgement and proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue the Full Powers to the signatory of the draft ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA). Ministry of Commerce was also assigned to notify ASEAN Secretariat of Thailand’s endorsement of the document.
The cabinet approved in principle for Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pay for the annual membership fee for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Centre at the rate prescribed for Group C, as stipulated by OECD, without having to resubmit to the cabinet for consideration and approval. However, should the OECD Development Centre adjust its membership fees which affect the budget burden approved in principle by the cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ordered to resubmit to the cabinet for further consideration.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) December 25, 2018--