The cabinet met on March 24, 2020 at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved the following proposals made by Ministry of Culture:
1. Approved nomination document of Thailand’s Songkran Festival as UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage.
2. Approved for Director-General of Cultural Promotion Department, in his capacity as secretary to the Cultural Heritage Conservation and Promotion Committee, to sign the document on behalf of the country.
The Cultural Heritage Conservation and Promotion Committee, in its meeting on December 20, 2019, approved in principle a drafting of “Songkran in Thailand” as a document to be proposed to UNESCO to nominate Thailand’s Songkran Festival as UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage by March 2020.
The nomination would contribute to international cooperation and the conservation of Thailand’s intangible cultural heritages. It also demonstrates at an international level Thailand’s priority over local communities and minority people.
The cabinet acknowledged a relief measure for people who are affected by the spread of COVID-19 as proposed by Ministry of Finance.
The Treasury Department has set measures in response to the Government’s policy to remedy the lessees as follows:
1. Exemption of lease fee for 1 year (12 months) for the Treasury Department’s lessees whose purpose of lease are for residing and farming
2. Delay of lease payment for 6 months (March – August 2020) with no interest charged for large-scale and SMEs lessees in tourism and related businesses.
The cabinet approved the draft project document for educational and scientific exchange between Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Thailand and Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ministry of Innovation and Technology (2020-2022). Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is to discuss with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet. Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is authorized as signatory of the document.
Hungary proposed to provide 40 full scholarships to Thai students to study in Hungary in various areas of study at both undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Thailand agrees to provide full or partial scholarships to Hungarian students to study in Thailand for 1-2 semesters during 2020-2022.
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) March 24, 2020