The cabinet meeting on Tuesday 2, February 2010 has come to the following decision:
The Cabinet has approved the central funds annual budget of the fiscal year 2009 for emergency expenditure. The approved amount from the Comptroller’s General Department is 121,789,132 baht. The amount will be available for withdrawal in the overlapping year from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Fisheries in order to assist farmers who went through natural disaster in Kalasin Maha Sarakham provinces, Phayao Suphanburi Surat Thani and Nong Khai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The budget will be distributed through the Bank of Agriculture and also through other reimbursement channel. In case of the next natural disaster, the relevant authorities are expected to expedite the process of analyzing the damage and estimating the total cost of damage in order to request for immediate funds within a 3-month period. This process is coincide with the Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (2003 and No. 2 amended in 2006) regulations of the Ministry of Finance to immediately help and relief any damages that impacted farmers by natural disasters. This is as well supported by the Bureau of the Budget.
Summary of content:
The Ministry of Agricultural reported that between the months of June 2009 to September 2009 there have been natural disasters including floods, disease outbreak in the fish population and storms in the area of 7 provinces mentioned above. The disasters caused total agricultural damage of 166,424.75 rai or 266,279,600 square meters, total damage in commercial fisheries in ponds of 359 rai or 569,600 square meters, total damage in commercial fisheries in floating basket of 7319 square meters, 2 fishing boats damaged, and 14,167 farmers were affected. The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries requested 121,789,131.25 baht from the central funds annual budget of the fiscal year 2009. The budget is used for helping affected farmers to fulfill the committee’s duty to aid victims at the provincial level. The documentation of this request was reviewed by the Department of Agricultural Extension and was approved by the Minister of Agriculture.
The Cabinet acknowledges the result from the Second Economic Ministers Committee meeting of the year 2010 as the Secretary General Committee of the National Economic and Social Development, and Director and Secretary of Minister of Economic Committee proposed the following:
1. Acknowledge the result from the Second Economic Ministers Committee meeting of the year 2010.
2. Agree to a set of principles for the development of state enterprises, telecommunications networks and power the communications group in the next phase and consider the possibility of using existing resources. This is to reduce the burden of investment and duplication of systems. If any region is able to use the network together, it is appropriate to consider renting the network as the priority and the ability to invest and the market needs.
3. Assign the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to be responsible for the consideration of facts and problems regarding the rate of high-speed Internet access (Broadband Internet) of people which is currently low. As well, to find ways to resolve the issue of public access to broadband Internet services (Broadband Internet) effectively and thoroughly.
4. Assign the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to be responsible for the consideration of ways to effectively solve problems in the telecommunications concession contract in order to ensure fair business competition.
The Cabinet has approved the agenda for children and youth development of the year 2010. This is to broadcast the initiative of pleasant province for children and youth and to create creative activities. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security proposed the following:
1. The Ministry of Interior will expedite operations of the children and youth development according to the strategic plan by assessing the performance in 7 areas: life safety and property, health, family stability, life time education, inclusiveness, children’s rights, and security risks.
2. Provide good environment to children and youth. Measure the level of pleasantness and creative activities for children and youth. The local government organizations (APT) must incorporate this issue in the development plan for local children and youth including the appropriations process and yearly periodic progress reports.
3. The Ministry of society including the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Ministry of Social Development and Human security, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and other related Ministries will integrate the activity management and operations in order to continue the initiative of the pleasant province for children and youth and creative activities. This is done by requesting cooperation from associates to support the information systems and to advice on creative areas and resources accordingly. As well, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security must take into account the opinion of the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Culture.
The cabinet approved the proposal from Republic of Estonia for upgrading its Honorary Consulate to an Honorary Consulate-General in Bangkok in response to Dr. Virachai Techavichit promotion from Honorary Consul to Honorary Consul-General of Republic of Estonia as proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Summary of content:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers information and considerations in the following:
1. Thailand announced its support to ensure independence of the Republic of Estonia on September 9th, 1991. Thailand established official diplomatic relations with Republic of Estonia on April 27th, 1992 by assigning the Embassy of Thailand in Stockholm city to include Republic of Estonia under its jurisdiction. While the Republic of Estonia has appointed its Ambassador in People’s Republic of China and as well, include Thailand within its jurisdiction. Dr. Virachai Techavichit was appointed as Honorary Consul of Republic of Estonia in Bangkok.
2. The bilateral relations between Thailand and Republic of Estonia remain consistent in terms of trade. During the month of January — November 2009, 34.92 million dollars were traded between the two countries (reduced from year 2008 which represent 66.22 per cent). Thailand has exported 29.49 million dollars and imported 5.43 million dollars. Thailand gained 24.06 million dollars through the trade. In terms of tourism during the month of January — November 2009, 4,351 Estonian visited Thailand which decreased from year 2008 representing 22.72 per cent.
--Cabinet Meeting (Abhisit Vejjajiva) January 2, 2010--