Prime Minister visits Oe-cusse Ambeno
The Prime Minister, Rui Maria de Araújo, visited the Special Administrative Region of Oe-cusse Ambeno (SAROA) on November 5th and 6th, to meet with the Coordination and Monitoring Committee for projects in the Special Zone of Social Market Economy (in Portuguese “ZEESM”). The Head of Government also met with the Organizing Committee for the 500 year celebration of the Affirmation of the Timorese Identity, to get an update on the preparations for the celebration of the 40 years of the Proclamation of Independence of Timor-Leste and the celebration of the 500 years since the first contact between the Timorese and Portuguese cultures.
On arrival, the Prime Minister was welcomed by the President of the ZEESM, Mari Alkatiri, and by the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
The Head of Government presided the meeting of the Coordination and Monitoring Committee of the ZEESM, in Mahata, Pante Macassar, to hear the presentation of the Indonesian construction company “WIKA” regarding the revision of the project for the construction of the region’s International Airport.
Regarding the development that is currently taking place in the ZEESM, Rui Maria de Araújo declared that “it is misleading to assume that it is a political error, which is what some people think – that the State’s investment undertaken in this place will only benefit the Oe-cusse region, but this is not true since this economic development will benefit all people in Timor-Leste”.
Possibilities to maintain the coordination and monitoring line throughout 2016 were also evaluated by the Central Government, SAROA and ZEESM.
On the other hand, the Organizing Committee for the celebration of the 500 years of the Affirmation of the Timorese Identity, responsible for the celebration of the 40 years Proclamation of Independence of Timor-Leste and the celebration of the 500 years since the first contact between the Timorese and Portuguese cultures, presented the agenda for the expected ceremonies to the Prime Minister. They also explained the details of the ceremonies and the plans to host the national and international guests that will go to Oe-cusse to participate in the main ceremony, on the November 28th, 2015.
In the afternoon, Rui Maria de Araújo, accompanied by the President of the ZEESM, Mari Alkatiri and by the members of Government, visited the Power plant in Sacato, to observe the progress of construction, under execution by the Wartsila international company. According to information on site, the project will be concluded soon, in time to supply electricity to the population during the commemorations on the November 28th.
On the November 6th, the Head of Government also visited the construction site for the “Caravela Artística” monument, in Suco Lifau, in Pante Macassar, which symbolizes the 500 years since the first contact between the Timorese and Portuguese cultures. Its inauguration is predicted for the 27th November 2015.
The Prime Minister also visited the construction site for the new building for the Rooster Rearing Cooperative in Suco Lifau. The Head of Government talked with the Cooperative’s representatives. When the construction is finalised, it is the
intention of this group to develop rooster rearing with the cooperation of people with disabilities. The Prime Minister and his entourage then headed to Suco Costa, in Pante Macassar, to evaluate the progress of construction of the local clinic. The construction of this building, which started in 2015, is expected to be finalized in March 2016.
Before ending his trip to Oe-cusse Ambeno, Rui Maria de Araújo made a final visit to the Urban and Suburban Family Agriculture group (USFA) to evaluate the agricultural activities taking place in that region. The USFA group is composed of 19 elements that dedicate themselves to planting horticultural products and fish farming.
Accompanying the Prime Minister were the Minister of State, Coordinator for Social Affairs and Minister for Education, António da Conceição, the Minister of State, Coordinator for State Administration Affairs and Justice and Minister for State Administration, Dionísio Babo Soares, the Minister of Justice, Ivo Valente, the Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, Francisco Klabuady Lay, the Vice Minister for Finance, Helder Lopes, the Vice Minister for Health, Ana Isabel Soares, the Vice Minister for Social Solidarity, Miguel Manetelu, the Vice Ministers for Public Works, Transport and Communication, Januário da Costa Pereira and Inácio Moreira, ZEESM local authorities, media representatives and guests.
