The cabinet meeting on 10 February 2009 has come to the following solutions;
Approval draft Ministry of Commerce’s Announcement on the Import Goods in the Country under the Economic Partnership Agreement and other Meetings between ASEAN and Japan B.E..... as proposed by Ministry of Commerce. Being complied with the Agreement, Ministerial Announcement is to open the country market for onion, garlic, animal feed corn and palm oil which import from the ASEAN member countries and Japan. With the document show rule of origin from the ASEAN member countries and Japan, the imported mentioned good can benefit from the customs’privilege. The Ministerial Announcement will start effective since April 1st 2009.
Approval draft Ministry of Commerce’s Announcement on the Import of Pepper, Sugar cane and Soy bean Oil under ASEAN Agreement B.E. This Ministerial Announcement will effective since this 1st January 2008. The imported pepper, sugar cane and soy bean from ASEAN member countries with the document show rule of origin or Form D do not required the import certify.
Acknowledgment the 3rd Economic Council Meeting reported by National Economic and Social Development Board.
1. Solution for Problem and Obstacles and the Promotion of Investment Environment Ministry of Finance is assigned to be a core agency to coordinate with Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Justice to identify the hazardous material and the import approach of hazardous material. Ministry of Finance is assigned to be a core office to cooperate with Office of Council of State, Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Justice to defy Government agencies’ right under Free Trade Agreement in order to formulate clear and the same implementation approach. The Office of Board of Investment is, meanwhile, assigned to consult with Department of Revenue regarding on private sector’s individual tax exemption and investment incentives.
2. Progress on Implementation and Draft the Office of Prime Minister’s Order on National Logistic Development B.E.... The cabinet agreed to set up National Management Committee on Development Logistic System and Service which included the Permanent Secretary General of Ministry of Transport as a member.
3. Organizing Economic Stimulus Exhibition and Fair Project Ministry of Commerce is assigned to be core unit for the Ministry’s work integration in organizing fairs and exhibition to create and increase purchasing power.
Approval in the principle of the Immediate Marketing Plan to Restore and Encourage Tourism of 2009 as proposed by Ministry of Tourism and Sport. The cabinet agreed to set aside 1,912,970,000 baht from central budget of 2009. The current world economic crisis and domestic political conflict sent a serve impact to national tourism industry which tourists came to Thailand reported down by 16% in September 2008. Tourism Authority of Thailand came to conduct the marketing plan to restore the national image and encourage the country tourism of 2009. The implementation approaches and solutions which proposed by Ministry of Tourism and Sports is to create tourists incentive and industry’s liquidity solution. In this regard, many agencies are urged to integrate their work and implement the measures such as reducing cost, creating corporate meeting, promoting seminars and field trip within country market. Meanwhile, the liquidity solution is to reduce tax and fees for tourism entrepreneurs and subsidize partial cost for the private sector who join the Thailand tourism trade fair. The marketing operation are included three plan which are 1) Restoring country confidence 2) encouraging the foreign tourists and encouraging domestic market.
Approval of ratification ASEAN-China Maritime Transport Agreement as proposed by Ministry of Transport.
Approval of ratification Protocol 1 : Designation of Transit Transport Routes and Facilities. The Protocol 1 will be effective after six member countries already give ratification. At the 6th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, ASEAN Economic Minister agreed to sing the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit. The Framework Agreement is aimed at facilitating good in transit to promote the ASEAN’s FTA and to increase the economic unity in the region.
--Cabinet Meeting (Abhisit Vejjajiva) February 10, 2009--