More Bureaucratic Reforms Planned

[george]

More bureaucratic reforms planned

Many ministry mergers likely

BANGKOK: -- The government is considering mergers of certain ministries and readjusting the structures and responsibilities of some ministries and state agencies in a second round of bureaucratic reform in a bid to strengthen Thailand's competitiveness in the global arena, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

Mr Thaksin made the statement after a lengthy brainingstorming session of a small group of cabinet members and government officials at the Navy Officers Club.

The meeting was attended by 11 ministers and officials. They included Deputy Prime Ministers Visanu Krue-ngarm, Chidchai Wannasathit and Somkid Jatusripitak, Commerce Minister Thanong Bidaya, National Economic and Social Development Board secretary-general Ampon Kittiampon, cabinet secretary-general Bavornsak Uvanno, and Bureau-cracy Development Commission secretary-general Tossaporn Sirisamphan.

Mr Thaksin said the meeting reviewed the whole bureaucratic structure to see if any changes should be incorporated.

Structures of various ministries and independent agencies, their working culture, work procedures and use of technologies and resources were taken into account. The prime minister said it was proposed at the meeting that some ministries be merged and adjustments be made to the responsibilities of others in the second round of reforms.

He said the Science and Technology Ministry would be merged with the Information and Communication Technology Ministry. Some departments of the two ministries would be transferred to other ministries. The Tourism and Sports Ministry would be restructured. It would be renamed the Tourism Ministry, since tourism is the country's main source of income.

Sports would be moved and come under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. The Commerce and Industry ministries would be combined into one and renamed Ministry of Industry and Trade. The responsibilities of the Agriculture Ministry would be readjusted. It would place emphasis on the production and sale of farm products.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry would strictly deal with matters on land use, water and forest management and environmental protection. It would be restructured internally.

On security affairs, there would be some changes at the Defence Ministry. The Office of the Permanent Secretary and Supreme Command would be downsized. Some of their responsibilities would be transferred to the armed forces.

Mr Thaksin said the meeting turned down Pol Gen Chidchai's proposal for a ministry of internal security. Instead, it was suggested that the National Security Council undergo major improvements without facing any changes to its structure.

The Finance Ministry would be restructured, with the Insurance Department moving in from the Commerce Ministry. It would also oversee financial institutions and the Deposit Insurance Office, which are now supervised by the Bank of Thailand.

The Bank of Thailand would continue to govern monetary policies including interest rates and currency exchange rates.

However, the prime minister stressed that these proposed changes are not yet final.

--The Post 2005-05-29