Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved in principle the draft Announcement of Integrated Provincial Administrative Policy Committee on Setup of Provincial Clusters and Provinces Designated as Provincial Cluster Office of Strategy Management, as proposed by Office of National Economic and Social Development Council, in its capacity as secretariat of the Integrated Provincial Administrative Policy Committee.
The draft Announcement prescribes setup and assignment of provincial clusters in 6 regions (18 provincial clusters) and Office of Strategy Management (OSM) of each provincial cluster as follows:
1. Northern Region: 4 provincial clusters (17 provinces)
1.1 Upper Northern Provincial Cluster 1
- Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hongson (OSM: Chiang Mai)
1.2 Upper Northern Provincial Cluster 2
- Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Prae (OSM: Chiang Rai)
1.3 Lower Northern Provincial Cluster 1
- Phitsanulok, Tak, Sukhothai, Petchabun, Uttaradit (OSM: Phitsanulok)
1.4 Lower Northern Provincial Cluster 2
- Nakorn Sawan, Kamphaengphet, Pichit, Uthaithani (OSM: Nakorn Sawan)
2. Northeastern Region: 5 provincial clusters (20 provinces)
2.1 Upper Northeastern Provincial Cluster 1
- Udon Thani, Beung Kan, Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu (OSM: Udon Thani)
2.2 Upper Northeastern Provincial Cluster 2
- Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, and Nakhon Phanom (OSM: Sakon Nakhon)
2.3 Central Northeastern Provincial Cluster
- Khon Kaen Roi Et, Kalasi, Mahasarakham (OSM: Khon Kaen)
2.4 Lower Northeastern Provincial Cluster 1
- Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Burirum, Surin (OSM: Nakhon Ratchasima)
2.5 Lower Northeastern Provincial Cluster 2
- Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothorn, Sisaket, Amnat Charoen (OSM: Ubon Ratchathani)
3. Central Region: 4 provincial clusters (17 provinces)
3.1 Upper Central Provincial Cluster
- Ayutthaya, Chainat, Lopburi, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Angthong (OSM: Ayutthaya)
3.2 Vicinity Central Provincial Cluster
- Nakorn Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakarn (OSM: Nakhon Pathom)
3.3 Lower Central Provincial Cluster 1
- Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri (OSM: Ratchaburi)
3.4 Lower Central Provincial Cluster 2
- Phetchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Prachuap Khiri Khan (OSM: Phetchaburi)
4. Eastern Region: 2 Provincial Clusters (8 provinces)
4.1 Eastern Provincial Cluster 1
- Chonburi, Chachoengsao, Rayong (OSM: Chonburi)
4.2 Eastern Provincial Cluster 2
- Chanthaburi, Prachinburi, Trat, Nakhon Nayok, Sakaeo (OSM: Prachinburi)
5. Southern Region: 2 Provincial Clusters (11 provinces)
5.1 Gulf of Thailand Southern Provincial Cluster
- Surat Thani, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla (OSM: Surat Thani)
5.2 Andaman Southern Provincial Cluster
- Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Phang-nga, Ranong, Satun (OSM: Phuket)
6. Border Southern Region: 1 Provincial Cluster (3 provinces)
6.1 Border Southern Provincial Cluster
- Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani (OSM: Yala)
The cabinet approved in principle the draft Ministerial Regulations issued under the Revenue Code Regarding Exemption from Revenue Taxes (No. ?) B.E. ? (Personal income tax exemption for remunerations paid by Ministry of Public Health to staffs and external personnel who took part in the operation against COVID-19 pandemic, as approved by Ministry of Finance), as proposed by Ministry of Finance and scrutinized by Office of Council of State.
The cabinet approved 3 draft Ministerial Regulations (Nos. 366, 378, and 388) to exempt inclusion of the following remunerations and compensations in the calculation of personal income tax for the year 2023:
1. Risk compensation for surveillance, investigation, prevention, control, and treatment of COVID-19 infected patients
2. Compensation for provision of medical and public health advices in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic
3. Compensation for providing COVID-19 vaccination services
The cabinet approved for the Department of Highways to increase carryover debt across fiscal years for the construction project of Bang Pa-in ? Sara Buri - Nakhon Ratchasima Intercity Motorway (14 sections) for the budget not over the budget ceiling approved by the cabinet on September 1, 2022. It also approved extension of the carryover debt across fiscal years for the construction of 10 sections of the Intercity Motorway, as proposed by Ministry of Transport.
The construction project of Bang Pa-in ? Sara Buri - Nakhon Ratchasima Intercity Motorway is divided into 40 sections, out of which 14 sections (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 32nd, and 39th) were approved for an increase of carryover debt across fiscal years under the budget ceiling of 1,740.9882 million Baht.
The cabinet also approved extension of the carryover debt across fiscal years for the construction of 10 sections of the Intercity Motorway.
The cabinet approved the following proposals of Ministry of Defense:
1. Approved the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic on Mutual Cooperation
2. Approved Minister of Defense or a representative as signatory of the MOU
3. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist, Ministry of Defense may proceed as deemed appropriate
(Minister of Defence and Armed Forces of Czech Republic Jana ?ernochov? is scheduled to pay an official visit to Thailand on March 25, 2024, on which the MOU will be signed.)
Under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic on Mutual Cooperation, scopes of cooperation include the exchange of information and experiences, and workshops and trainings on National security and defense policy; Peacekeeping and humanitarian operations; Military technical cooperation; Military history; Military training and education.
The cabinet approved the following proposals of Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
1. Approved the draft Thailand - UK Strategic Partnership Roadmap. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist nor against national interest, Ministry of Foreign Affairs may proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet
2. Approved Minister of Foreign Affairs or a representative as signatory of the draft Thailand - UK Strategic Partnership Roadmap
(The draft Thailand - UK Strategic Partnership Roadmap will be signed during the official visit to Thailand of UK Minister of Foreign Affairs on March 20, 2024).
Areas of cooperation under the draft Thailand - UK Strategic Partnership Roadmap are: 1) Economy, trade and investment; 2) Politics, parliament, and multilateralism; 3) Security and defense; 4) Climate change, energy, green economy, sustainable development; 5) agriculture; 6) digital, science and technology, innovation, and technology cooperation; 7) Public health; and 8) People-topeople connectivity, education, and soft power.
The cabinet approved the following proposals of Ministry of Social Development and Human Security:
1. Approved the draft Joint Statement of the Thirty - First ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council. Should there be an amendment in parts that are not gist nor against national interest, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security may proceed without having to resubmit to the cabinet
2. Approved Minister of Social Development and Human Security or a representative, as head of the Thai delegation at the 31st ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting, to adopt the draft Joint Statement.
The 31st ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting will be held in Lao PDR on March 24, 2024.
The draft Joint Statement prescribes full support to the Lao PDR?s ASEAN Chairmanship with its theme of ?ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience?, focusing on two sub-themes, namely ?Enhancing Connectivity? and ?Enhancing Resilience?. Under ?Enhancing Connectivity,? four priorities were identified, namely: (1) Integrating and Connecting Economies, (2) Forging an Inclusive and Sustainable Future, (3) Transforming for the Digital Future, and (4) Culture and Arts: Promoting the Role of ASEAN Culture and the Arts for Inclusion and Sustainability. Five priorities were identified on ?Enhancing Resilience?, namely: (1) Development of Strategic Plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, (2) Enhancing ASEAN Centrality, (3) Promoting Environmental Cooperation: Climate Change Resilience, (4) Women and Children: Promoting the Role of Women and Children Towards the Transformation of Behaviourism in ASEAN, and (5) Health: Transforming ASEAN Health Development Resilience in a New Context.
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Srettha Thavisin) Mar 19, 2024