Government of Timor-Leste

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Eighth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 20th, 2023

The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace, in Dili and, upon the project presented by the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes, decided to approve the participation in the ‘Open Government Partnership’ and designated the member of the Government responsible for the area of finance as its representative.

The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral initiative launched in September 2011 to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, foster public participation, combat corruption, and use new technologies to strengthen participatory democracy.

This initiative supports reforms at the government and civil society level in member countries through assistance in planning and implementing action plans and facilitates the sharing of experiences and information regionally and globally to enable peer-to-peer learning.

On November 28^th, 2022, the Open Government Partnership assessed Timor-Leste's compliance with the participation criteria, resulting in a minimum score of 75%, concluding that the Government of Timor-Leste is eligible to participate in this multilateral initiative.

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The Council of Ministers also decided, following the project presented by Minister Rui Gomes, to approve the Project Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) regarding the project "Strengthening the Preparedness and Response to Infectious Diseases in Timor-Leste". Furthermore, the Council of Ministers also decided to designate the Minister of Finance to sign the agreement mentioned above on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste.

Under this agreement, KOICA commits to make a financial contribution of up to US$ six million, to be used to strengthen preparedness and response to infectious diseases in Timor-Leste, with the strengthening of capacity to detect, report and respond at all levels and promptly to priority infectious disease events and outbreaks, as well as the preparation of national experts in the field.

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The Council of Ministers decided to authorise the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes, to start negotiating with the World Bank (International Development Association) the specific conditions of a loan for the "Timor-Leste Healthcare Action Through Rapid Infrastructure Improvements" - "HARI'I" project.

With this decision, the Government intends to mobilise the necessary financial assistance, in the form of loans, to strengthen the health infrastructure and the referral system between the municipal health units and the hospital centres.

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Following the projects presented by the Minister of Public Works, Abel Pires da Silva, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the procurement procedures for the rehabilitation of municipal roads concerning Package 8 Section Aileu (Be'cluru) - Liquidoe (ICB/089/MOP-2022), with an estimated amount of US$ 24.2 million, and Package 11 Section Maliana City (ICB/088/MOP-2022), with an estimated amount of US$ 21.2 million.

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Lastly, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Urban Development, José Maria dos Reis, concerning precautionary measures for the new administrative city.

Thus, the Government determines that until the Dili Urban Plan comes into force, within a two-year time limit, extendable for a further two years, and the corresponding declaration of public utility of the land included in the area reserved for the installation of the future new administrative city in Metinaro, the following actions are prohibited in that area, regardless of their purpose:

> Allotment operations and urbanisation, construction, extension, modification and reconstruction works, except those exempt from prior administrative control;

> land redevelopment works;

> demolition works of existing buildings, except those exempt from prior administrative control; and

> Tree clearance and or destruction of living soil and vegetation cover. END