The cabinet met on May 7, 2019, at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved and acknowledged the followings:
1.) Approved in principle the draft Act on Revision of Organization of Ministries, Sub-Ministries and Departments (No. …), B.E. …. (Establishment of Office of National Land Policy Commission), as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment.
2) cknowledged preparation of the secondary laws, time frame, and framework of the secondary laws issued under the aforementioned draft Act.
The Act on Revision of Organization of Ministries, Sub-Ministries and Departments (No. …), B.E. …. prescribes the followings:
1) Establishment of Office of National Land Policy Commission as a new government department under Office of the Prime Minister.
2) Transfer of relevant authorities and duties to Office of National Land Policy Commission from Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment's Office of Natural Resource and Environment Plan and Policy, and Office of Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment.
3) Director-General of Office of Natural Resource and Environment Plan and Policy is assigned as acting Director-General of the Office of National Land Policy Commission until a new director-general is appointed.
The cabinet approved the draft Ministerial Regulation on public hearing for natural gas pipeline transport projects, B.E. ..., as proposed by Ministry of Energy.
1) The draft Ministerial Regulation on public hearing for natural gas pipeline transport projects, B.E. ... prescribes definition of "project", "project owner", "environmental report", and "performance report on sensitive areas".
2) Project owner is required to conduct public hearing according to the criteria and method stipulated in the Regulation for better understanding of the respective project.
3) Project owner is required to prepare a summary report within 15 days after the public hearing.
4) Project owner is required to include amended issues in the environmental report or the performance report.
5) A provision is stipulated to provide exemption for natural gas pipeline transport projects that have implemented prior to the Ministerial Regulation takes effect.
The cabinet acknowledged anti-corruption measures for national park management as proposed by National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and ordered for Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment to be the focal point working together with other concerned agencies.
NACC has proposed measures against national park management corruption in 3 aspects, that is, 1) fee collection, 2) budget approval and disbursement of revenues for national park maintenance, and 3) park administration.
Concerned agencies include Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, Ministry of Interior, Office of Permanent Secretary to Prime Minister's Office, the Budget Bureau, Office of Council of State, Office of National Economic and Social Development Board, Office of the Civil Service Commission, and Office of the Public Sector Development Commission.
The cabinet acknowledged the followings:
1) Acknowledged guideline for promotion of Startup Ecosystem, and other related implementations by concerned agencies. This is as proposed by Ministry of Finance.
2) Ministry of Finance and concerned agencies are to consider sources of funding for Startup Promotion and Development Fund.
3) Other concerned agencies are to mobilize promotion of startup ecosystem, while Ministry of Finance is ordered to take opinions of Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and Office of the Board of Investment into consideration in proceeding with the matter.
The guideline prescribes 1) establishment of Startup One-Stop Service (OSS) to provide services related to the idea stage, commercialization, incubation/acceleration, and co-working space, and 2) establishment of Startup Promotion and Development Fund.
The cabinet approved the proposal made by Ministry of Finance for the implementation of human capital development projects (undergraduate and vocational levels) by the Student Loan Fund which provide loans with special condition (interest rate of not higher than 0.5%, and 30% reduction of principles) to students who wish to study in the fields required by the 10 S0Curve industries and 3 infrastructure projects.
The cabinet approved the Declaration on Gender Responsive Standards and Standards Development, and assigned Secretary-General of Industrial Standards Institute or a representative as signatory of the Declaration. This is as proposed by Ministry of Industry.
The Declaration on Gender Responsive Standards and Standards Development endorses the 5th UN-SDGs (to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls). Responsible agencies are United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Thailand's Industrial Standards Institute. Signing of the Declaration will take place on May 14, 2019.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) May 07, 2019--