Bangkok: The Prime Minister has announced directives to revise the criteria for earthquake compensation to ensure flexibility and prevent overlap with insurance payouts. Alongside this, a central budget of 7,404 million baht has been approved to address drought issues. Additionally, Thailand’s aviation status has been upgraded to CAT1 by the FAA, enabling direct flights to the United States and aiming to position Thailand as a regional aviation hub.
According to Thai News Agency, the Prime Minister, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, highlighted that the Cabinet meeting focused on following up on earthquake compensation, particularly addressing the inconsistencies in the criteria set by the Comptroller General’s Department. Relevant agencies, including the Comptroller General’s Department, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, and Bangkok, are tasked with formulating new regulations to ensure compensation criteria do not overlap with insurance claims.
The Cabinet also endorsed the Office of the Council of State’s proposal to modify the Alien Business Act. This amendment aims to support the establishment of future businesses, such as startups and those needing expert knowledge in advanced or online service technologies, to bolster Thailand’s economic competitiveness.
Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Environment of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand. This agreement focuses on cooperation to mitigate transboundary pollution, including air and water pollution, hazardous waste, and other forms of pollution through knowledge exchange.
Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned the Office of Water Resources’ request for the 2025 budget to address drought management. The approved 7,404 million baht budget is allocated for projects to enhance water management efficiency, which includes drilling artesian wells, improving water supply systems, locating water sources, and constructing embankment protection weirs.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal from the Ministry of Interior for an additional 781 million baht in flood relief funds. This budget, allocated from the 2025 budget, will assist 86,876 flood-affected households across 11 provinces during the 2024 rainy season.
Lastly, the Prime Minister reported that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has upgraded Thailand’s aviation rating from Level 2 to Level 1. This upgrade allows Thai airlines to operate direct flights to the United States, which is expected to increase flight options, reduce travel costs, and support the development of Thailand’s airports and facilities into a regional aviation hub.