Government of Timor-Leste

The State institutions responsible for the Basic Basket (Cesta Básica) program, coordinated by the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs (MCAE), signed a joint order, on February 25^th, 2021, for the extension of the Basic Basket program until March 31^st, 2021.

The order was signed by the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral, by the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva and by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pedro dos Reis. The signing ceremony took place in the Office of the Minister of Economic Affairs.

This order refers to the constraints that led to the need to extend the distribution period, namely the climatic conditions, access difficulties of suppliers to some remote locations, because of the road conditions and the imposition of  lockdown in some areas of the territory to face SARS-CoV-2. Despite these difficulties, by February 24^th, 900 thousand people have already received their basic basket or voucher, related to the Basic Basket program.

Thus, through the said order, this program’s distribution, of a universal character, will be extended until march 31^st, allowing to reach the entire population of the entire territory, in accordance with the provisions of Decree-Law no. 48/2020, of October 7^th, amended by Decree-Law no. 1/2021, of January 6^th, on  the creation of the Basic Basket program.