The cabinet met on January 14, 2020 at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved the proposal made by Ministryof Digital Economy and Society on the merger of TOT Plc and CAT Telecom Plc. according to the Public Limited Companies Act, B.E. 2535 (1992), and additional amendments. The new entity shall be named “National Telecom (NT Co.)”. Ministry of Finance will be the sole shareholder. NT Co. shall be exempted from the same rules and regulations, and cabinet’s resolutions imposed upon TOT Plc., and CAT Telecom Plc. as it is a company limited under State Enterprise Capital Act, B.E. 2542 (1999).
Ministry of Digital Economy and Society was assigned to proceed with the merger to complete according to plan and timeframe (within 6 months after the cabinet’s approval).
The cabinet approved the draft Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the National Police Agency of Japan and the Ministry of Labour of the Kingdom of Thailand on a Basic Framework for Information Partnership for Proper Operation of the System Pertaining to Foreign Human Resources with the Status of Residence of “Specified Skilled Worker”, and authorized Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Labor as Thai signatory. This is as proposed by Ministry of Labor.
Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist nor against the cabinet’s approval, Ministry of Labor is to proceed and inform the cabinet later of the change.
The draft Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the National Police Agency of Japan and the Ministry of Labour of the Kingdom of Thailand on a Basic Framework for Information Partnership for Proper Operation of the System Pertaining to Foreign Human Resources with the Status of Residence of “Specified Skilled Worker” is aimed to facilitate the residence in Japan of Thai specified skilled workers in 14 areas of industry (such as construction, machinery parts and equipment, agriculture, food and drink production, etc.) for mutual interest in accordance with related laws and regulations of both Japan and Thailand.
The cabinet acknowledged the outcome of the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (AMRDPE), and assigned Ministry of Interior to adopt the draft joint statement, which is the outcome document, later. This is as proposed by Ministry of Interior.
Deputy Minister of Interior Songsak Thongsri was assigned to head the Thai delegation in the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (AMRDPE) held on November 4-8, 2019 in Naypyidaw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and to adopt the 11th AMRDPE Joint Statement, the meeting’s outcome document, which prescribes implementation of the action plan (2020-2025) according to the 2025 ASEAN’s Socio Cultural Community Plan, and Smart ASEAN Socio – Cultural Community; and commencement of study on the importance of reduction of development gap in the context of rural development and poverty eradication in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam, among others.
Republic of the Philippines will take turn to host the 12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (AMRDPE) in 2021.
The cabinet approved appointment of National Preparatory Committee (NPC) for the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (UN Crime Congress), as proposed by Ministry of Justice, and assigned the Ministry to be a focal point in liaising with concerned agencies for Thailand’s participation in the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (UN Crime Congress). This is as proposed by Ministry of Justice.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has sent an invitation for the Thai Government to attend the 14th UN Crime Congress during April 20-27, 2020 in Kyoto, Japan. High-level meeting under the 14th UN Crime Congress will be held under theme “Advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda”. Issues to be discussed, according to the agenda, include (1) Crime prevention, (2) Criminal justice system, (3) Rule of law, and (4) International cooperation and technical assistance. Kyoto Declaration will be adopted as outcome document of the meeting.
Ministry of Justice has proceeded with the appointment of the National Preparatory Committee (NPC) for the 14th UN Crime Congress, with Minister of Justice as chair. The Committee is tasked to propose issues and major trends related to crime prevention and criminal justice, and identify Thailand’s strategies and position for the meeting.
The cabinet approved 2 documents, namely, 1) First draft GFFA Communique 2020, and (2) FAO-Concept Note for an International Digital Council for Food and Agriculture for the 12th Berlin Agriculture Minister’s Conference. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative is authorized to proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet.
1. First draft GFFA Communique 2020 is composed of 4 main sections: 1) trade for global food security, 2) trade collaboration for agricultural development, 3) inclusive, sustainable, and safe food value chain, and 4) fair rule and regulation for agricultural trade.
2. FAO-Concept Note for an International Digital Council for Food and Agriculture prescribes mechanism of the new entity as a platform for cooperation expansion, exchange of view and experience, and digital development for addressing challenges related to food security, starvation, health, and food and agricultural system.
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) January 14, 2020