2013undertheCopyrightAct,B.E.

2537(1994)byPakornNilprapunt,FulltimeLawCouncilor,OfficeoftheCouncilofStateofthe
KingdomofThailand.<pakorn.nilprapunt@gmail.com>
Remark:ReferencetoThailegislationinanyjurisdictionshallbemadetotheThaiversiononly.Thistranslationhasbeenmadesoas
toestablishbasicunderstandingaboutthisRuleoftheOfficethePrimeMinistertoforeigners.
Translation

RULE OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
ON
SPECIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREA,
B.E. 2556 (2013)


Whereas one amongst many significant policies of the government is
to establish the special economic development area with a view to enhance national
trade and investment through ASEAN linkage under ASEAN connectivity and other
economic frameworks as well as border trade with neighboring countries;
additionally another important policy of the government is to strengthen capability,
efficiency and transparency of local administration in rendering public services in
response to the needs of the public and communities, it is therefore necessary to set
up the mechanism to push and support high potential local administration to
become special economic development area with wellequipped public utilities and
fundamental public services that having suitable and necessary environment for
economic expansions timely and efficiently based upon the philosophy of sufficient
economy, the principle of sustainable development and the principle of public
participation and local administration in economic and social development,
including the mechanism that enable the central and provincial administrations to
underpin the special economic development area through delegation of their
powers to the provincial or local official, as the case may be, in order to empowering
them to make an order, to grant permission, to make approval, to perform official
duties or to do any other necessary activities as required under the laws, rules,
regulations, notifications, orders or the resolutions of the Council of Ministers in
relation to free trade under ASEAN and other economic frameworks as well as
border trade with neighboring countries at a single service center established
within that special economic development area along the line with ASEAN Single
Window framework;

By virtue of section 11 (8) of the State Administration Act, B.E. 2534
(1991), the Prime Minister, with the approval of the Council of Ministers, lay down
the rule, as follows:

Clause 1. This Rule is called the Rule of the Office of the Prime
Minister on Special Economic Development Area, B.E. 2556 (2013).

Clause 2. This Rule shall come into force as from the day
following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.
1



1
Published in the Government Gazette, Vol. 130, Special Issue, Part 87 Ngor, dated 24
th
September
2556 (2013).
2

2013undertheCopyrightAct,B.E.2537(1994)byPakornNilprapunt,FulltimeLawCouncilor,OfficeoftheCouncilofStateofthe
KingdomofThailand.<pakorn.nilprapunt@gmail.com>
Remark:ReferencetoThailegislationinanyjurisdictionshallbemadetotheThaiversiononly.Thistranslationhasbeenmadesoas
toestablishbasicunderstandingaboutthisRuleoftheOfficethePrimeMinistertoforeigners.

Clause 3. In this Rule:
Special economic development area means the area demarcated and
notified by the Policy Committee to be special economic development area in which
the government is going to provide support on development of infrastructure, one
stop service system upon ASEAN Single Window basis and other activities
necessarily for stimulation of economic expansion of that area;
One stop service means the official services, viz. order, permission,
approval, official duty or any other necessary activity as required under the laws,
rules, regulations, notifications, orders or the resolutions of the Council of Ministers
in relation to free trade under ASEAN and other economic frameworks as well as
border trade with neighboring countries, that are provided at a single service point
within each special economic development area by the provincial or local official
whose powers in so doing are delegated by the central or provincial administration;
Border trade includes the cross border investment, the provision of
services across the border as well as the working of alien along the border and
adjacent areas;
Neighboring countries means any country sharing borderline with
the Kingdom of Thailand;
Master plan means the master plan for establishment and operation
of each special economic development area;
Work plan or project means the work plan or project which is
necessary for the development and establishment of infrastructure and one stop
service system proposed by the agency with a view to establish and operate each
special economic development area in accordance with the master plan;
Action plan means the action plan for establishment and operation
of each special economic development area;
Area development means the development and usage of immovable
property of both State and private sectors, including the provision of any activity
within the special economic development area in accordance with the draft rules
and procedure for supporting the establishment and operation of special economic
development area determined by the Policy Committee with the approval of the
Council of Ministers;
Agency means the central administration, provincial administration,
local administration, State enterprise and other State agencies;
Policy Committee means the Policy Committee on Special Economic
Development Area;
Office means the Office of the Policy Committee on Special Economic
Development Area.

Clause 4. If it is unable to comply with this Rule upon any
reasonable and necessity ground, the Prime Minister shall have the power to waive
the enforcement of this Rule as he thinks fit and shall have the power to do any
reasonable act so as to facilitate free trade under ASEAN and other economic
3

2013undertheCopyrightAct,B.E.2537(1994)byPakornNilprapunt,FulltimeLawCouncilor,OfficeoftheCouncilofStateofthe
KingdomofThailand.<pakorn.nilprapunt@gmail.com>
Remark:ReferencetoThailegislationinanyjurisdictionshallbemadetotheThaiversiononly.Thistranslationhasbeenmadesoas
toestablishbasicunderstandingaboutthisRuleoftheOfficethePrimeMinistertoforeigners.
frameworks as well as border trade with neighboring countries to be in accordance
with the government policy.

Clause 5. The Prime Minister shall have charge and control of the
execution of this Rule.

CHAPTER I
Policy Committee


Clause 6. There shall establish the Committee called the Policy
Committee on Special Economic Development Area comprising:
(1) the Prime Minister as Chairperson;
(2) two Deputies Prime Minister entrusted by the Prime Minister as
ViceChairpersons;
(3) the Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister entrusted
by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Minister of Commerce, the Minister of
Interior, the Minister of Labor and the Minister of Industry as members;
(4) the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, the Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the SecretaryGeneral of the Council of
State, the SecretaryGeneral of the Board of Investment, the Secretary of the Prime
Minister, the SecretaryGeneral of the National Security Council, the Director of the
Bureau of the Budget and the Commanderinchief of the Royal Thai Police as
members;
(5) the Chairperson of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the
Chairperson of the Thai Trade Representatives, the Chairperson of the Industrial
Council of Thailand and the Chairperson of the Thai Banks Association as members;
(6) not more than three qualified members appointed by the Prime
Minister as members.
The SecretaryGeneral of the National Economic and Social
Development Board shall be member and secretary and the Director of the Office
shall be an assistant secretary.
The term of, and vacation from, office of the members under (6) shall
be determined by the Prime Minister.

Clause 7. The Policy Committee shall have the powers and duties
as follows:
(1) to determine and submit the draft rules and procedure for
supporting the establishment and operation of special economic development area
as well as the draft master plan, work plan, project and action plan to the Council of
Ministers for approval;
(2) to give advice to the draft master plan, work plan, project or action
plan upon request of any agency;
4

2013undertheCopyrightAct,B.E.2537(1994)byPakornNilprapunt,FulltimeLawCouncilor,OfficeoftheCouncilofStateofthe
KingdomofThailand.<pakorn.nilprapunt@gmail.com>
Remark:ReferencetoThailegislationinanyjurisdictionshallbemadetotheThaiversiononly.Thistranslationhasbeenmadesoas
toestablishbasicunderstandingaboutthisRuleoftheOfficethePrimeMinistertoforeigners.
(3) to lay down operation guideline to be complied by the agency in
order to enhance free trade under ASEAN and other economic frameworks as well
as border trade with neighboring countries efficiently and suitably;

(4) to supervise, monitor and evaluate the result of the master plan
and to give advice or recommendation to solve any problem emerged from the
master plan, work plan, project or action plan and then report to the Council of
Ministers for information;
(5) to appoint subcommittee or working group as appropriate;
(6) to disseminate knowledge on, and to promote and support
participation of private sector and the public in, an execution of the master plan,
work plan, project and action plan;
(7) to invite any relevant official, person or agency to give statement
or to summon document from any relevant person or agency for consideration as
necessary;
(8) to issue regulations, notification and orders for the execution of
this Rule;
(9) to recommend the Council of Ministers to propose, review or
repeal any law, rule, regulation or resolution of the Council of Ministers if it is
necessary for the establishment and operation of special economic development
area;
(10) to do any act for the compliance with this Rule or as entrusted by
the Council of Ministers or the Prime Minister.
The Policy Committee shall submit progress report to the Council of
Ministers from time to time.

Clause 8. At a meeting of the Policy Committee, the presence of
not less than onehalf of the total number of its members shall constitute the
quorum.
If the Chairperson is not presence at the meeting or is unable to
perform his duties, the ViceChairperson entrusted by the Chairperson shall preside
over at the meeting respectively. If the Chairperson and ViceChairpersons are not
presence at the meeting or are unable to perform their duties, the members shall
elect one among themselves to preside over at the meeting.
A decision shall be made by a majority of votes. In casting votes, each
member shall have one vote. In case of equality of votes, the person who preside
over the meeting shall have an additional vote as a casting vote.

Clause 9. An appointment of any subcommittee or working
group to do work for the Policy Committee in concerning with the master plan, work
plan, project or action plan that relates to the responsible area of any Changwat
2
or
local administration, the Governor of such Changwat or the administrator of such

2
Thais for Province
5

2013undertheCopyrightAct,B.E.2537(1994)byPakornNilprapunt,FulltimeLawCouncilor,OfficeoftheCouncilofStateofthe
KingdomofThailand.<pakorn.nilprapunt@gmail.com>
Remark:ReferencetoThailegislationinanyjurisdictionshallbemadetotheThaiversiononly.Thistranslationhasbeenmadesoas
toestablishbasicunderstandingaboutthisRuleoftheOfficethePrimeMinistertoforeigners.
local administration shall be appointed as a member of that subcommittee or
working group, as the case may be.
The provisions of clause 8 shall apply to the meeting of subcommittee
and working group mutatis mutandis.

CHAPTER II
The Office


Clause 10. There shall establish the Office of the Policy Committee
on Special Economic Development Area within the Office of the National Economic
and Social Development Board. The Office shall be responsible for technical and
secretarial works of the Policy Committee and shall have the powers and duties as
follows:
(1) to prepare and submit the draft rules and procedure for
supporting the establishment and operation of special economic development area
to the Policy Committee for consideration;
(2) to recommend the Policy Committee on feasibility and suitability
of the draft master plan, work plan, project or action plan submitted by the agency
for determination;
(3) to give advice to any relevant agency in preparing the draft master
plan, work plan, project or action plan;
(4) to promote and support participation of local administration,
private sector and the public in developing the demarcated area in accordance with
the master plan;
(5) to direct, monitor and organize the administration and execution
of the master plan and to support and give advice to relevant agency for the
achievement of the master plan;
(6) to conduct study, analysis or research in relation to problems and
hurdles on the establishment and operation of special economic development area
and to propose the possible solutions thereon to the Policy Committee;
(7) to ask any relevant agency to transfer personnel to do work for the
Office temporarily and to borrow materials, equipment and durable articles from
any relevant agency for the use of the Office temporarily if necessary;
(8) to do any act or other activities entrusted by the Policy Committee
or the Chairperson.
The rules and procedure for supporting the establishment and
operation of special economic development area under (2) shall at least consist of
the guideline for supporting the establishment and operation of the special
economic development area, standard of infrastructures and one stop service
system, timeframe for implementation, control, examination and monitoring
procedure as well as evaluation rule.


6

2013undertheCopyrightAct,B.E.2537(1994)byPakornNilprapunt,FulltimeLawCouncilor,OfficeoftheCouncilofStateofthe
KingdomofThailand.<pakorn.nilprapunt@gmail.com>
Remark:ReferencetoThailegislationinanyjurisdictionshallbemadetotheThaiversiononly.Thistranslationhasbeenmadesoas
toestablishbasicunderstandingaboutthisRuleoftheOfficethePrimeMinistertoforeigners.
Clause 11. The Office shall submit progress report to, and within
the period determined by, the Policy Committee for information.

Clause 12. The official of the Office of the National Economic and
Social Development Board who is entrusted by the SecretaryGeneral of the National
Economic and Social Development Board shall be the Director of the Office. The
Director shall administer the Office and shall be the superintendent of personnel of
the Office. The Director shall be responsible directly to the SecretaryGeneral of the
National Economic and Social Development Board.

Clause 13. The expense of the Policy Committee and its sub
committee or working group and the expense of the Office and the personnel
working for the Office as well as other related and necessary expenses shall be paid
from the budget of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development
Board allocated exclusively for the work of the Policy Committee.

CHAPTER III
Implementation


Part 1
Preparation of Master Plan, Work Plan, Project and Action Plan


Clause 14. Any agency desiring to establish special economic
development area shall submit the proposal together with the draft master plan, as
approved by the Ministry it is attached, to the Policy Committee for determination in
accordance with the rules and procedure for supporting the establishment and
operation of special economic development area.
Prior to proceed with the requirements under paragraph one, the
agency desiring to establish special economic development area shall provide
information to, and conduct consultation with, local administration, the people
within that area and other relevant agencies.

Clause 15. The draft master plan shall have detailed information as
determined by the Policy Committee. Such information shall at least compose of the
followings:
(1) justification and necessity for the request for supporting of
establishment and operation of special economic development area;
(2) area to be demarcated and notified as special economic
development area;
(3) objectives, targets and expected outcomes of the establishment
and operation of special economic development area;
7

2013undertheCopyrightAct,B.E.2537(1994)byPakornNilprapunt,FulltimeLawCouncilor,OfficeoftheCouncilofStateofthe
KingdomofThailand.<pakorn.nilprapunt@gmail.com>
Remark:ReferencetoThailegislationinanyjurisdictionshallbemadetotheThaiversiononly.Thistranslationhasbeenmadesoas
toestablishbasicunderstandingaboutthisRuleoftheOfficethePrimeMinistertoforeigners.
(4) proposed development and usage of land within special economic
development area which shall be accorded to potential of that area and land use
requirement imposed under the law on urban planning;
(5) preferential rights and benefits to be provided for dwellers and
entrepreneurs within special economic development area;
(6) plan, timeframe and milestones for the development of such
infrastructure as public utilities, transportation, telecommunication and energy
which are necessary for enhancement of free trade under ASEAN and other
economic frameworks as well as border trade with neighboring countries;
(7) form, procedure, standard and guideline for the provision of one
stop service, including evaluation and disclosure of the result of evaluation of that
service;
(8) environmental, health and social impacts which may emerge from
the establishment and operation of special economic development area as well as
measures and budget for prevention, remedy and mitigation of such impacts.
The draft master plan under paragraph one shall be made in
accordance with the philosophy of sufficient economy, the principle of sustainable
development and the principle of participation of the public and local
administration in economic and social development.

Clause 16. In the case where the Policy Committee is of opinion,
during consideration of the draft master plan, as to whether the participation of any
other agency may be beneficial to the establishment and operation of the proposed
special economic development area in any matter, the Policy Committee shall
propose the name of each concerned agency and the matter that each agency has to
be done as well as timeframe for implementation of that work to the Council of
Ministers, altogether with the draft master plan, for approval.

Clause 17. When the approval of the Council of Ministers has been
given to the master plan, the Policy Committee shall then notify the demarcated area
specified therein as special economic development area and shall issue operation
guideline to be complied with by all relevant agencies under the master plan.

Clause 18. All relevant agencies under the master plan shall
prepare and submit the work plan, project or action plan composing of details
determined by the Policy Committee to the Policy Committee for approval.
In proceedings the requirements under paragraph one, the relevant
agency shall provide information to, and conduct consultation with, local
administration and the people within that area.






8

2013undertheCopyrightAct,B.E.2537(1994)byPakornNilprapunt,FulltimeLawCouncilor,OfficeoftheCouncilofStateofthe
KingdomofThailand.<pakorn.nilprapunt@gmail.com>
Remark:ReferencetoThailegislationinanyjurisdictionshallbemadetotheThaiversiononly.Thistranslationhasbeenmadesoas
toestablishbasicunderstandingaboutthisRuleoftheOfficethePrimeMinistertoforeigners.
Part 2
Project Administration and Control


Clause 19. All work plan, project or action plan as approved by the
Policy Committee shall then be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval.
Upon the approval of the Council of Ministers under paragraph one, all
responsible agencies shall have the duty to complete the assigned work plan, project
or action plan within the timeframe specified therein. Such duty shall also be
deemed as a performance indicator of each responsible agency.

Clause 20. The responsible agency shall provide control and
monitoring system for the assigned work plan, project or action plan and shall
submit the progress report to the Office for further submission to the Policy
Committee for information. The form and period for submission of the progress
report shall be determined by the Office.
Any problem or hurdle emerging from an implementation of the work
plan, project or action plan shall be solved by the responsible agency and the Office
without delay. If such problem or hurdle is unable to solve at this stage, the Office
shall report the unsettle problem or hurdle to Policy Committee for consideration.

Clause 21. If an implementation on any matter is deviated from, or
inconsistent with, the master plan, work plan, project, action plan or any procedure
as prescribed by this Rule, the Policy Committee shall find the best solution thereon.
If there are varieties of alternative solutions, the Policy Committee
shall submit the matter to the Council of Ministers for resolution.

Given on the 11
th
Day of July B.E. 2556 (2013)

Yingluck Shinawatra

Prime Minister