Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved in principle the draft Royal Decree on exemption of toll fee for Motorway No. 7 and No. 9 for a specified period (No. ?) B.E. ?, as proposed by Ministry of Transport.
The draft Royal Decree prescribes exemption of toll fee for Motorway No. 7 (Bangkok-Ban Chang), and No. 9 (Kanchanaphisek Rd.: - Bang Phli - Phra Pradaeng) from 0001hrs of December 28, 2023 to 2400hrs of January 3, 2024. This is to facilitate people?s traveling during the long holidays.
The cabinet acknowledged Industrial Economic Report for Q3/2023 and September 2023, and outlook for Q4/2023.
Based on the report, manufacturing production index (MPI) in Q3/2023 contracted by 6.19% for the 4th consecutive quarter due to global economic recession and the increased financial risk factors which resulted in the decrease of consumption and investment. Key industries that caused the contraction were electronics parts and circuit, automobiles, and computer and peripherals, whereas key industries that have expanded well in Q3/2023 were sugar, plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms, and wiring cables and other cables for electronics and electrical use.
Manufacturing production index (MPI) for September 2023 also contracted by 6.1% YoY due to the global economic recession and slow recovery of domestic economy as a result of high household debts and high loan interest rates. Key industries that caused the contraction were automobiles (-7.65%), electronics parts and circuit, automobiles (-17.69%), and refined petroleum products (-5.05%), whereas key industries that expanded well in September 2023 (YoY) were plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms (+12.35%), and sugar (+76.64%).
Economic outlook for key industries in Q4/2023 is as follows: iron and steel industry is expected to slightly contract (YoY); electronics industry is also expected to contract; rubber and rubber product industry is expected to contract due to the decreasing demand from the foreign markets; and food industry as a whole is expected to slightly contract (YoY) due to the economic recession; whereas export is forecasted to fare better in Q4/2023 due to an increase demand of products during the festive season.
The cabinet acknowledged exemption of toll fee for Burapha Withi Expressway and Kanchanaphisek Expressway (Bang Phli - Suksawat) during New Year Holiday of 2024, as proposed by Ministry of Transport.
The exemption of toll fee for Burapha Withi Expressway and Kanchanaphisek Expressway (Bang Phli - Suksawat) is aimed to alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate people?s traveling during the New Year holiday. The exemption will take effect from 0001hrs of December 28, 2023 to 2400hrs of January 3, 2024 (7 days).
The cabinet approved the proposal of Ministry of Justice as follows:
1. Approved to cancel access to and use of Ratchaburi Direk Rit Building, Chaloem Phrakiat Government Center (the total area of 6,541 square meters) by:
a.Justice Minister?s Office and Office of Justice Permanent Secretary, 8th floor with the total area of 1,691 square meters, and 9th floor with the total area of 4,357 square meters
b.Legal Execution Department, 9th floor with the total area of 493 square meters, from December 1, 2023 onward
2. Approved request to be exempted from the cabinet?s resolution, dated December 11, 2007, which prescribes requirement on minimum 1-year advance notification before moving out for the aforementioned case only.
The cabinet approved the proposal of Ministry of Defense as follows:
1. Approved the draft Agreement on border security cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and Lao PDR (2023). Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist, Ministry of Defense may proceed as it sees appropriate.
2. Approved Minister of Defense or a representative as signatory of the Agreement. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue the Full Powers to Minister of Defense or a representative.
The draft Agreement on border security cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and Lao PDR (2023) will be signed at the 28th General Border Committee (GBC) meeting during December 21-22, 2023. New issue of cooperation included in the Agreement is an establishment of a working group to solve drug problems along the Thai-Lao border.
The cabinet acknowledged the change of name of the Joint Statement for the 8th Mekong ? Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers Meeting to the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration for the 4th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders? Meeting. Prime Minister or a representative will adopt the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration instead of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist, Ministry of Foreign Affairs may proceed accordingly.
The cabinet, in its meeting on Novemeber 21, 2023 has made approval to 3 outcome documents for the 8th Mekong ? Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers? Meeting, namely, (1) Joint Statement for the 8th Mekong ? Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers Meeting, (2) Five-Year Plan of Action on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2023-2027) and (3) Joint Initiatives on the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Innovation Corridor Development, which would have been adopted by Minister of Foreign Affairs or a representative on November 28, 2023.
However, the 8th Mekong ? Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers? Meeting was postponed to December 7, 2023, whereas the 4th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders? Meeting was proposed to be held on December 25, 2023. The meeting, therefore, agreed to forward the 3 outcome documents to the MLC Leaders? Meeting for their adoption, and to change the name of the joint statement to Nay Pyi Taw Declaration. Aside from minor revisions, essences of the documents remain the same.
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Srettha Thavisin) Dec 19, 2023