Government of Timor-Leste

 On September 16^th 2024, the Ministry of Finance, under the leadership of Minister Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso, held a ceremony at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium to present the new management team for the period of 2024-2028, under the theme “Shaping Timor-Leste’s financial landscape for sustainable success”. This event marks na important phase in the reorganisation and strengthening of the country’s financial structures. 

The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, who, in his speech, emphasised the importance of this ceremony for improving the finacial system, stressing that strengthening management capacities and correcting procedures are essential for guaranteeing Timor-Leste’s economic sustainability. The Head of Government also emphasised the central role of this team in promoting more efficient public management, focused on transparency and accountability. 

 During the event, the sworn-in leaders signed a performance agreement, commiting themselves to meeting strategic targets set by the Government and reporting regularly on their progress. This agreement aims to strengthen the efficiency and quality of the services provided to the population, promoting the proper management of public resources.  

 Following Government Resolution No. 48/2024 of September 6^th, Joanico Pinto was offically sworn in as the new Commissioner of the Customs Authority. In his swearing-in speech, the new Commissioner highlighted the main priorities for his mandate, which include strengthening land operations, promoting an institutional culture focused on efficiency and effectiveness, and strengthening cooperative relations with other State institutions to ensure border control and protecting against illegal activities. Joanico Pinto also stressed the importance of maximising revenue collection for the State and the need for a new recruitment process to fill gaps identified in the Customs Authority’s structure. The new commissioner also paid tribute to his predecessor, José António Fátima Abílio, who passed away in May, and pledged to continue his legacy.  

 During the ceremony, the following officials were sworn in: Regina de Jesus de Sousa as General Director of the Treasury, Timótea Pompeia Marques as General  Director of State Assets Management, Arlindo da Cruz Monteiro as General Director of the Performance Monitoring  and Evaluation Unit, Martinho Lopes asGeneral Director  of the Public Finance Training and Studies Centre, Veneslau Quintão Guterres as General Director of the Integrated Finacial Management Information System Unit, Fernando Manuel Ribeiro e Francisco da Silva as General Directors of Management and Mobilisation of External Resources, Ernesto da Conceição Silva as General Inspector, João Maria do Rosário Lima as National Director of Administration and Archive Management, Evangelina de Fátima Aparício Guterres as National Director of Procurement and Contract Management, Regina da Conceição Martins Costa as National Director of Finance, Domingos Marques as National Director of Logistics, Maintenance and Project Management, Cesario Martins as National Director of Human Resources, Natercia de Jesus Barreto as National Director of Planning, Budget and Performance Evaluation, Maria Eurosia Ramlah Ferreira Amaral as National Director of Treasury Management and Public Debt, Lídia de Sousa Guterres as National Director of Accounting and Accounting Standarisation, Nenik Maria Imaculada Ximenes as National Director of Payment and Administration of General Appropriation, Eduk da Maía as National Director of Financial Monitoring and Decentralisation, Amilton Soares Amaral Lemos as National Director of Planning, Salomão Yaquim as National Budget Director, Ilce Maria Alexandra da Cunha Magno as National Director of Policy and Loan Mobilisation, Sitalina Maria das Dores Amaral Tilman as National Director of Public-Private Partnership, Bendita Lobo Miranda as National Director of Policy, Management and Inventory of State Assets, Edmundo Bianco da Silva Soares as National Director of State Vehicle Management, Cipriano do Rosário Pereira as National Director of Alineation of Movable Assets, and Azeca Monteiro Oliveira as Deputy Inspector General.

The Ministry of Finance’s leadership team for the period 2024 to 2028 has the mission of strengthening Timor-Leste’s Financial Management, ensuring the  compliance with  public policies and the efficient use of National Resources.