2017 Budget Proposal under discussion in the National Parliament
The Government’s proposal for the General State Budget for 2017 (GSB 2017) – Law n.47/III (5th) – began to be analysed and discussed in its generality, on November 23rd, in the National Parliament.
According to the Prime Minister, Rui Maria de Araújo, the GSB 2017 reflects great responsibility, transparency, rigor and realism.
The budgeted amount (US$1,386.8 million) is lower than that for 2016. According to Rui Maria de Araújo, the Government prepared the GSB 2017 answering the national priorities, i.e., education, health, agriculture and basic infrastructure, including potable water, sanitation, construction and maintenance of roads, irrigation, bridges, ports and airports.
Domestic revenues, this is basically taxes and fees, are having a solid performance in 2016, and is expected that in 2017 they will increase 4.3% when compared to this year’s, as a result of improvements in government services provided to the public and improvements in revenue collection. However, the Prime Minister warned that the path to diversify the economy and to inclusive and sustainable development is still long and full of challenges. 
The Prime Minister’s speech also addressed the continuity in the implementation of both the second phase of the Strategic Development Plan and Timor-Leste’s commitments regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, not forgetting the election cycle of 2017 and the perspectives of the world and national economies.
The vote of the draft SGB Law in its generality runs until Friday, November 25th, followed by the debate and vote in the specialty, from November 30th.
To access the Press Release from the Spokesperson for the Government regarding the GSB Draft Law for 2017, click here.
To access the Prime Minister’s speech during the presentation of the GSB 2017 in the National Parliament, click here.
