* The cabinet approved the draft of the Deposit Protection Organization Act B.E…………which includes the main points as follows:

1.       To set up the structure and establishment of the Deposit Protection Organization, and to act as a juristic person with entry to the fund to be not more than 1000 million baht.

2.       To set up the deposit protection fund.

3.       To set up the amount of the deposit protection fund, and set rules and regulations of reimbursement in the case of the financial institution defaulting according to regulations of the financial institution.

4.       To ensure that the Deposit Protection Institution reimburses the client after the financial institution is terminated.

5.       To set up penalties for non compliant institutions or persons that use symbols to identify their business that they are covered under this act. 

 * The cabinet approved of the Clean Development Procedure project according to the Kyoto Protocol including eight projects. It was also agreed upon to accept the letter of approval and to designate the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment to sign the project letter of approval to the project developer, as proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.                 The eight projects include:      

        2.1 The project of Biomass to Energy which includes 2 projects:      

                  - Suratthani Biomass Power Generation Project in Thailand.     

                  - Surin Electricity Company Limited

       2.2 The Biogas to Energy project includes 5 projects      

                 - Wastewater Treatment with Biogas System (UASB) in a  Starch Plant for Energy and Environment Conservation at Nakorn Ratchasima.    

                -  Wastewater Treatment with Biogas System (AFFR) in a Starch Plant for Energy and Environment Conservation at Chachoengsao.            

                - Northeastern Starch (1987) Co.Ltd-LPG Fuel Switching Project.       

                - Chumporn Applied Biogas Technology for Advanced Waste Water Management, Thailand.      

       2.3 Project of Landfill Gas to Energy Project includes 1 project.      

               - Jaroensompong Corporation Rachathewa Landfill Gas to Energy Project in Thailand   

 * The cabinet approved in principle for Bangkok to host the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010 (B.E 2553), as proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, whose responsibility is all national sport, has scrutinized and agreed to the proposal to host the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010 (B.E 2553). This would be a positive event for the image for Thailand and will also create a positive change in the short term political, economic and social and cultural arenas. The youth in Thai society will have a better sense of responsibility, have self confidence and be proud of who they are and their country.

At the same time Thailand will be recognized by the world community and be compared with other countries in terms of politics and economics besides being known by the world community as a member of ASEAN. Moreover Thailand has already experienced organizing and managing a global sporting event with the recent 24th UNIVERSIADE Summer Games. To add to the already good reputation of the country, it is proposed that Thailand host the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010 (B.E 2553). 

*The cabinet approved in principle, as proposed by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to 3 topics as follows:

1.      For Thailand to propose and host if accepted TELECOM Asia 2008 (B.E 2551)

2.      Designate the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to process the work related to this topic on behalf of the Thai government and to issue an invitation letter to the International Telecommunication Union to organize TELECOM Asia 20083.      Assign the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to set up a preparation committee for the event, and a subcommittee for other related areas which includes a representative from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, government departments and other related offices. 

*The cabinet approved as proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as follows:

1.      Approval of the payment proposal budget to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the total of 30,000 EURO from the 2007 expense budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for membership of Development Centre of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

2.      Approval for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to set up the budget for a membership of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Amount may change according to GDP (Gross Domestic Product of the following year

*The Cabinet approved 2 proposals submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with details as follows:

1.   To change Thai Board members in the Board of Directors of Thailand – United States Educational Foundation (Fulbright) for Year 2007.

2.   To increase the amount of Thailand’s support fund from 5 million Baht (per year) to 15 million Baht per year, with all related expenses to be withdrawn from the supplementary budget account, under the category of Thai membership fee and international donation through Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that

1.   At present, the Thailand – United States Educational Foundation (Fulbright) had 14 Board members in the Board of Directors, comprising of 7 Thai and 7 US nationals, appointed by US Ambassador to Thailand. A Thai representative would be selected Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the US Ambassador to Thailand would hold the capacity as Honourary Chairman with ultimatum power to decide in cases where a tie in votes occurred by Board members.

2.   In pursuit to the Board of Directors meeting no.4/2549 on 11 November 2006, it was agreed to change the organization structure of the Foundation to better respond to the varied nature of activities. For example, the portrayal of the image of the Foundation to truly convey the cooperation aspect between Thailand and US on education, and to promote the roles of Thai private enterprises who were interested in helping support in human resource development through financial sponsorship in the Foundation’s activities. In this respect, it was deemed necessary to change the composition structure of Thai Board members in line with the Cabinet’s approval on 3 March 2006 as follows:

Mr Manaspas Xuto, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to be appointed Chairman, with Board members consisting of

-Director General of American and South Pacific Affairs or representative

-Director of Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency or representative

-Representative from National Economic and Social Development Board

-Representative from Commission on Higher Education

-Representative from Stock Exchange of Thailand

-President, Thai Fulbright Association

3.   In connection to the request for an increase in Thailand’s support fund for the Foundation, a consideration was made on the ground that Thailand had been continuously supporting the Foundation through allocation of budget since 1989 with the initial amount of 2 million Baht that was subsequently increased to 5 million Baht per year in 1997. As no further raise was made since then, together with the appropriateness in terms of proportionality that would make Thailand’s financial contribution closer to that of the US, as well as the academic benefits that Thailand would gain from the Foundation’s support for US academics to conduct researches in Thailand, the latest increase in the support fund was justifiable. Moreover, the action taken would be a good representation of Thailand – US relations. It would demonstrate the spirit of partnership, rather than being only recipient, and would also show the importance Thailand had given to the aspects of education, social and human resource development.

* The Cabinet approved a donation in the amount of 100,000 US Dollars to the Fund for Health Emergencies in Southeast Asia, which will be derived from the remaining budget of the supplementary budget for the year 2007.  The Cabinet also approved the donation of medical supplies to the Republic of Peru in the amount of 100,000 US Dollars from the same budget.  In this connection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been requested to take care of purchasing the medical supplies in accordance with the proposal of the Ministry of Public Health.

1.  The Southeast Asian Regional Office for the World Health Organization established the Southeast Asian Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) as a reaction to the consecutive occurrences of a number of natural disasters in the region, such as the tsunami in Thailand and Indonesia in December of 2004, earthquakes in Indonesia in March of 2007 and flooding and landslides in the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea and Indonesia in August of 2007.  In these cases, speedy and responsive assistance can help to effectively reduce the rate of loss that occurs as a result of these natural disasters.  The said Fund, in addition to being used to provide medical services and post-crisis rehabilitation, will also be used to allocate appropriate technical assistance to prevent and prepare against future natural disasters.

After careful consideration, the Ministry of Public Health viewed that Thailand should offer assistance in the form of substantial support in disaster situations both within the Southeast Asian region and in other regions.  In addition to underscoring Thailand’s empathy and sense of friendship, it will also underline the fact that both developed and developing countries can join global efforts in preventing and alleviating various global crises.

  *********************************** 

Foreign Relations Division

Government Spokesman Bureau