Ministry of Public Works rehabilitates the Dili-Manatuto-Baucau road
The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications has symbolically launched the rehabilitation project of the Dili-Manatuto-Baucau road, for these populations to have good road access. This ceremony was held on October 21st, 2016, in the Municipality of Manatuto.
According to the Minister Gastão de Sousa, the rehabilitation of this road is a top priority and will be carried out according to the result of a technical, economic and environmental assessment, which will make it feasible. The economic return will be very high, about 20% when the road is rehabilitated.
The Minister added that “the carrying out of the works brings other benefits, such as reducing travelling time and vehicles operating costs, increasing household income, improving connectivity within the country and increasing the capacity of the local businesses involved in road building in Timor-Leste”.
The finance for this road came from the General State Budget and also from a loan fund from the Japanese Government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The rehabilitation work is divided into two road sections: the first, between Dili and Manatuto, has begun on July 30th, 2016, in Hera (Dili), and will end on April 25th, 2019, in the Lacló Bridge (Manatuto), with 48.74 kilometres. The Chinese company working in this road is Sinohydro Corporation Limited and the total cost is US$48,314,975.87. 
The second road section goes from Manatuto to Baucau and started on August 18th, 2016, in Lacló (Manatuto), and shall end on May 14th, 2019, in the Municipality of Baucau. It has 57.702 kilometres. The Chinese company Shanghai Construction (Group) General Co. is responsible for this work, which has a total cost of US$ 59,287,453.55.
The Ambassador of Japan in Timor-Leste, Eiji Yamamoto, expressed his expectation that the rehabilitation of this national road will contribute not only to the local economic development, but also to the country’s economic development.
The Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Hernâni Coelho, the Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers, Avelino Maria Coelho, the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Nélio Isaac Sarmento, the Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Maria Teresinha Viegas, members of Parliament, the Administrators of the Municipalities of Dili and Manatuto and other local authorities attended this ceremony.
