Media Releases
- 17 of July of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 17th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 17th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and decided to grant full powers to the Vice Prime Minister, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, to sign, on July 22nd, in Geneva, the instrument of acceptance of the Protocol of Accession of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO), signed in Abu Dhabi on February 26th, 2024, and the Protocol amending the Marrakesh Agreement, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, signed in Geneva on June 17th, 2022, which prohibits certain forms of subsidies harmful to fisheries.
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The Vice Prime Minister, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, was also given full powers to sign agreements with:
The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China to:
○ Strengthening Investment Cooperation in the Digital Economy;
○ Promoting Investment Cooperation in Green Development;
The China International Development Cooperation Agency to:
○ Promoting the Implementation of the Global Development Initiative;
○ Promoting Chinese cooperation infrastructure projects.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Investment Promotion and Protection.
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The Council of Ministers granted full powers to the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Minister of the Interior and Security of the Government of the Republic of Korea to cooperate in the development of the Saemaul Undong initiative. This program, launched in South Korea in the 1970s, aims to improve local infrastructure, increase agricultural productivity, and promote community socio-economic development.
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The Council of Ministers decided to approve the total amount of expenditure associated with each budget heading for the 2025 General State Budget (2025 GSB), with the overall amount expected to be US$ 1.8 billion. This amount includes the budgets of the Central Administration, Social Security, and the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cússe Ambeno (RAEOA – acronym in Portuguese).
The distribution of the aggregate budget ceiling for the Central Administration in the 2025 GSB is based on the sectors defined by the Government Program and the National Strategic Development Plan. The Social Capital Sector receives an allocation of 38%, followed by the Institutional Framework Sector with 36%, Infrastructure Development with 16%, and Economic Development with 10%.
The disaggregated ceilings will be distributed to public entities next Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024, and they will have 11 days to prepare their budget proposals. The Budget Review Committee will analyse these proposals from August 12th to 27th, 2024. The 2025 GSB Law Proposal is expected to be submitted to the National Parliament by October 1st, 2024. END - 10 of July of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 10th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 10th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Decrees presented by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Filipus Nino Pereira, to regulate licence and inspection procedures and approve model forms and templates for commercial and industrial licensing.
The legislation applies to establishments whose companies carry out industrial or commercial activities classified as medium or high risk and operate on national territory. It establishes the procedures, forms, and templates required to license these activities.
The main objective is to ensure that the opening, alteration, or renovation of commercial or industrial establishments is preceded by a rigorous inspection, which ensures adequate operating conditions, safety, hygiene and public health. The legislation also provides for an inspection report to be drawn up describing the general conditions of the premises, identifying observations and recommendations.
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The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, for the appointment of Jesuíno dos Reis Matos Carvalho to become President of the Civil Protection Authority for a three-year term due to his recognised training, knowledge, technical capacity and experience for the position.
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The Council of Ministers attended the presentation of the report on the visit to Rwanda in the framework of the g7+, led by the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, and the representatives of the g7+ and the inter-ministerial team that took part in the mission.
The purpose of the visit was to witness Rwanda's significant social recovery since the 1994 genocide. Today, Rwanda has a development model considered exemplary for developing countries. It stands out for its progress in infrastructure, investments in technology, strengthening of law and order, attraction of investors, and development of the tourism sector.
The mission's main objective was to exchange experiences and lessons learnt between Rwanda and Timor-Leste, allowing the members of the Timorese delegation to closely observe the successful practices implemented in Rwanda. Another important objective was establishing contacts with the Rwandan Government, with a view to future collaboration between the two countries.
The 16-member Timorese delegation, led by the Vice-Minister of State Administration, Jacinto Rigoberto Gomes de Deus, included representatives from various relevant ministries and was accompanied by a g7+ team that facilitated the mission. The visit, which took place from May 12th to 17th, 2024, provided valuable lessons and perspectives for Timor-Leste's development.
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The Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso, gave a detailed presentation to the Council of Ministers on the state of execution of the 2024 General State Budget.
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Lastly, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution on the prevention of offences related to the practice of martial arts.
This Government Resolution aims to consolidate the social peace achieved through the temporary suspension of martial arts and, in a controlled manner, allow their return. The aim is to ensure that the practice of martial arts forms part of the healthy exercise of sporting activity and contributes to young people's education and civic training.
The measures established by this Government Resolution include instructing the Minister of Interior to reinforce policing in border areas, preventing members of martial arts groups from participating in ritual ceremonies in Indonesia, refusing entry into national territory to foreign citizens who pose a threat to public health, order and safety, coordinating the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Interior with criminal police bodies to reinforce investigation teams into illegal activities related to martial arts, and reinforcing that disobeying legitimate orders constitutes a criminal offence, as provided for in the Penal Code. END - 03 of July of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 3rd, 2024Approved:more
✅ 1 - Proposal to ratify the agreement on Visa Waiver between Timor-Leste and Singapore for Holders of Diplomatic, Official or Service and Ordinary Passports;
✅ 2 - Proposal to ratify the agreement on Visa Waiver between Timor-Leste and Thailand for Tourist Purposes for Ordinary Passport Holders;
✅ 3 - Proposal to ratify the agreement on Visa Waiver between Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam; and
✅ 4 - Contribution of US$ 200,000 to the ASEAN Technical Secretariat.
Analyzed:
➡️ 1 - Report on progress in implementing the Roadmap for Timor-Leste's Accession as a Full Member of ASEAN;
➡️ 2 - Dili's Urban Solid Waste System;
➡️ 3 - Prospects for Public Service Reform; and
➡️ 4 - XII CPLP Sports Games. - 26 of June of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 26th, 2024Analyzed:more
➡️ 1 - Expansion plan for the "Dili Central" shopping complex;
➡️ 2 - Five-Year Plan of the Ministry of Finance;
➡️ 3 - “Escola Superior de Educação (ESE) - Higher School of Education RAIZ” project;
➡️ 4 - Timor Gap's Activity Plan;
➡️ 5 - Meeting’s timetable for the Budget Revision Committee. - 21 of June of 2024Migration Attachés Now Authorized to Issue VisasFrom now on, migration attachés in the countries mentioned above are authorized to issue visas for work, business, temporary stay, establishment of residence, transit, tourism and airport stopovers.more
- 19 of June of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 19th, 2024Approved:more
✅ 1 - appointment of the members of the General Council of the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) within the competence of the Council of Ministers;
✅ 2 - first amendment to Decree-Law no.10/2020, of March 25th, the new regime for the training activities of the Legal and Judicial Training Centre;
✅ 3 - World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies ("2022 Fisheries Protocol");
✅ 4 - Recovery and Insolvency Code. - 12 of June of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 12th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 12th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and began the meeting with a presentation on “Developing the blue economy in Timor-Leste” by Álvaro Sardinha, a consultant specialising in the blue economy and sustainable development.
This initiative is part of Ocean Week, under the slogan of the national campaign “Ha’u-nia Tasi, Ha’u-nia Timor” (My Sea, My Timor), promoted from June 8th to 18th, 2024, by the Land and Maritime Boundaries Office, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
The presentation aimed to demonstrate the advantages of developing the blue economy on the country’s economic growth. The blue economy focuses on using maritime resources and promoting sustainable, restorative, and regenerative economic development, recognising the importance of marine spaces and the planet's sustainability.
The development of the blue economy in Timor-Leste could boost, among other things, opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and the development of professional careers.
The Council of Ministers thanked him for the presentation and reinforced the Government's intention to continue promoting the joint and dynamic efforts of various ministries and government agencies to successfully and sustainably develop the Blue Economy in the country.
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The Council of Ministers has decided to propose to the National Parliament the appointment of Mr Rui Pereira dos Santos as Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission for a four-year term.
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The Council of Ministers approved a draft Government Resolution approving the protocol between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Portuguese Republic on the Portuguese School in Dili, signed on June 8th, presented by the Minister of Justice.
Under the terms of this protocol, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste cedes the right to a 15,000m2 plot of land in Caicoli to the Portuguese state for the construction of new facilities for the Portuguese School of Dili. END - 05 of June of 2024Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 5th, 2024Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 5th, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and discussed various issues, including the presentation by the Coordinator of the Justice Sector Reform Working Group, Dr Lúcia Lobato, on the action plan to improve the justice sector in Timor-Leste.
The Justice Sector Reform Working Group presented a roadmap for improving the justice sector, outlining priorities, and identifying a set of recommendations and measures for the Government to adopt to strengthen the judicial system.
The Council of Ministers discussed the recommendations presented and reiterated its support for the Justice Sector Reform Working Group to continue its work to adopt the necessary reforms.
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The Minister of Transport and Communications also presented on the progress made in installing the submarine fibre optic cable, which is expected to be operational by the end of this year.
The Council of Ministers acknowledged the team’s commitment and decided to name the submarine cable repeaters after some of Timor-Leste’s martyrs, such as Maria Udu Bele “Maria Tapó”, Rosa Bonaparte Soares “Muki”, Dulce Maria da Cruz “We-we”, Fernando de Araújo “La-sama”, Agustinho do Espírito Santo, José da Silva, Venâncio Ramos Amaral Ferraz and Dinis Carvalho da Silva “Nelo Kadomi Timor”.
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