The cabinet met on April 15, 2020 at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved the draft Act on Organisation of Ministries, Sub-Ministries and Departments, (No. …) B.E. … (Establishment of Office of National Land Policy Committee), as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The draft Act on Organisation of Ministries, Sub-Ministries and Departments, (No. …) B.E. … stipulates that Office of National Land Policy Committee be a government organization (departmental level) under Office of the Prime Minister, and report directly to the Prime Minister. It also stipulates transfer of authority, staffs, manpower, assets, budget, rights, debts, and obligations of Office of the State Land Management, and Land Administration Division (only those that are not under the missions of Land Arrangement Commission) to the Office of National Land Policy Committee.
The cabinet approved the draft Royal Decree issued under the Revenue Code Regarding Exemption from Revenue Taxes (No. …) B.E. … (Exemption of corporate income tax to foreign-based companies or corporate partnerships for the interests of Bank of Thailand’s bonds, and the interest of Financial Institution Development Fund’s bonds, as proposed by Ministry of Finance.
According to the draft Royal Decree, exemption of corporate income tax for companies or corporate partnerships established under the foreign laws, and do not have operation in Thailand.
The cabinet approved the draft Royal Decree issued under the Revenue Code Regarding Exemption from Revenue Taxes (No. …) B.E. … (Tax measures for promotion of bio-degradable plastic containers), as proposed by Ministry of Finance.
The Government is expected to lose 450 million Baht/year (during 2019-2021) by approving the tax privilege. However, promoting use of bio-degradable products among entrepreneurs would help reduce the Government’s budget for plastic waste management and provide an alternative for environmental management, which will help the country to become “Bio Hub of ASEAN”. Corporate income tax exemption is made for companies/corporate partnerships at 25% of the expenses made on bio-degradable plastic products from January 1, 2019- December 31, 2021.
The cabinet acknowledged the dfraft Action Plan on Promotion of Creative Economy (Phase I- 2020-2022), as proposed by the Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization).
The dfraft Action Plan on Promotion of Creative Economy (Phase I- 2020-2022) has been approved by Creative Economy Promotion Policy Committee and National Economic and Social Development Board. Gist of the draft Action Plan is as follows:
Goal: The 1st phase is aimed to increase the growth of creative products and service by no less than 5%, and for Thailand to have at least a city that is recognized and declared by UNESCO as a creative city. The 2nd -4th phases range 5 years each. Strategies under the draft Action Plan include:
1st Strategy: Building and promoting creative economy knowledge management
2nd Strategy: Elevating personnel skills and capability in creative business and stimulating creative thinking process
3rd Strategy: Enhancing business operation capacity and supporting creative industrial growth
4th Strategy: Developing creative cities and ecosystem, and encouraging public sector to place importance on creativity
The cabinet approved for Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (Public Organization) to provide the grant in aid (for the total amount of 18,820,805.12 Baht) to Lao People’s Democratic Republic for information system development and improvement project to be connected with ASEAN Single Window. Scope of the project include the development of National Single Window - Routing Platform (NSW - RP), Electronic Certificate of Origin (e – CO), etc.
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) April 15, 2020