The cabinet met on December 17, 2019 at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet acknowledged the overview of Thai society during the 3rd quarter of 2019 as proposed by Office of National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). Gist is as follows:
1) Social Dynamism
1.1. Economic recession has yet to significantly impact labor market
1.2. Expansion of household debt has slowed down
1.3. Ongoing disease surveillance and continued increase of dengue infection
1.4. Increase of alcohol and cigarette consumption
1.5. Increase of narcotics-related criminal cases, and awareness building on anti-physical and sexual abuses
1.6. Reduction of traffic accidents, related casualties, and losses
2) Significant Social Phenomenon
2.1. One out of ten Thai children are multi-dimensionally poor (especially in education and health)
2.2. Low digital intelligence quotient (DQ) of youths and children and protection of youths and children from online threats
2.3. Employment trend of new generation workforce (graphic designing, online marketing and advertisement, website and programming, and writing and translation)
The cabinet approved Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contribution Partnership (NDC) Partnership, and assigned Department of Environmetal Qulity Promotion, and Office of National Economic and Social Development Board as joint focal point, and approved drafting of Letter of Intent for NDC Partnership by Department of Environmetal Qulity Promotion. This is as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
NDC Partnership will provide member states with Technical Assistance, Knowledge Products, and Facilitating Finance in achieving large – scale climate target, and the SDGs 2030. Partnership is on a voluntary basis, and there are currently 100 member states including 6 from the ASEAN region (Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Lao PDR).
The cabinet approved draft Term Of Reference (TOR) on The Global Center for Mekong Studies (GCMS), and authorized Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs as “GCMS Thailand Center”. Director-General of Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs or a representative is also authorized to endorse the TOR. Should there be an amendment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allowed to proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet.
Term Of Reference (TOR) on The Global Center for Mekong Studies (GCMS) prescribes GCMS’s vision (as network for academic cooperaton and exchange of knowledge institutes in the Mekong – Lancang member states); operation of GCMS national centers; activities, and related budget.
The cabinet approved the draft Agreement on Cooperation of Projects under Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Special Fund, and authorized Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment or a representative as signatory of the Agreement. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist nor against national interests, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is to proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet. This is as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The draft Agreement on Cooperation of Projects under Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Special Fund prescribed the cooperation of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Embassy of People’s Republic of China in setting up the most effective approach in managing Mekong – Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Special Fund provided by China for “Demonstration on Forestry Poverty Alleviation in Thailand” project (for the total budget of RMB2,430,000).
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) December 17, 2019