Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved the draft ASEAN - China Joint Statement on Agricultural Cooperation, which was proposed at the 26th ASEAN ? China Summit by Indonesia, ASEAN Chair, on September 6, 2023, and ordered Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send an official notification letter on the cabinet?s approval to the ASEAN Secretariat.
The draft ASEAN - China Joint Statement on Agricultural Cooperation, earlier approved at the 45th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) Meeting on September 1, 2023, prescribes agricultural cooperation direction between ASEAN and China. Importance will be placed on agricultural sectors which positively impact food security, social security, economic growth, and ecosystem.
The cabinet approved in principle the proposal of Ministry of Foreign Affairs on an inclusion of ?Republic of India? and ?Taiwan? in the list of countries/territories under Ministry of Interior?s Announcement on list of countries/territories whose passport/travel document holders shall be unilaterally and temporarily exempted tourist visa for entering the Kingdom for a period not exceeding 30 days from 10 November 2023 to 10 May 2024 (6 months).
Unilateral and temporary exemption of tourist visa for holders of passports or travel documents of India and Taiwan to stay in the Kingdom for a period not exceeding 30 days from 10 November 2023 to 10 May 2024 (6 months) is aimed to encourage the visits to the Kingdom of Indian and Taiwanese tourists during the high season. According to official record, 1,162,251 Indian tourists have entered Thailand during January and September 2023, and additional 1.55 million are expected to travel to the country by year?s end. Indian tourists spend approx. 41,000 Baht/trip/person, whereas Taiwanese tourists spend approx. 43,000 Baht/trip/person. The number of Taiwanese tourists to Thailand is expected to reach 700,000 by year?s end.
The cabinet approved the repatriation loan for Thai workers who have returned from Israel for the total budget of 1.2 billion Baht, and ordered concerned agencies to proceed accordingly. This is as proposed by Ministry of Finance.
Approval of the repatriation loan is aimed to assist repatriated workers and boost their liquidity. The loan must be used for repayment of debt incurred from their travel to work in Israel and/or for starting new careers. The Government?s Savings Bank and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives will provide 1%-interest loan of not over 150,000 Baht/person to approx. 12,000 eligible workers. Loan application period is set for October 31, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Srettha Thavisin) Oct 31, 2023