Dissemination of Decentralisation and Local Government Project in Ainaro District
Ainaro district was the fourth district to be visited by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão to disseminate the Administrative Decentralisation and Local Government Policy Project. The Prime Minister and his delegation stayed in Ainaro on 15 and 16 April, 2013.
“I already explained several times that the Administrative Decentralisation and Local Government Policy is very useful for the private sector in the rural areas, for it promotes institutional strengthening in a strong, legitimate and stable State. This project creates opportunities for the democratic participation of citizens in the provision of a public service in an effective, efficient and equitable manner and, consequently, it supports the socio-economic development of the country”, the Prime Minister said.
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão also explained that before the establishment of the municipality, “there is a need for the sons of Ainaro to understand the underlying objective because, once the municipality has been established, it will be the sons of Ainaro themselves who will have the responsibility to manage the existing resources and potentialities in order to develop the district and thereby improve the lives of its people in a sustainable manner. We are gathered here today to encourage the sons of Ainaro: intellectuals, the private sector, veterans, the group of women, non-governmental organisations, including the youth, so as to collaborate with the district administrator, particularly with the preparatory commission and the community leaders, to start identifying both the potentials and the difficulties, discuss them and delineate the plans for the implementation of the municipality with responsibility and accountability”.
During the visit, the Ainaro district administrator handed over to the Prime Minister the report of the work undertaken by the preparatory commission for the establishment of the municipality in Ainaro.
Ainaro district has a total area of 787 square kilometers, 21 sucos and a population of approximately 62,000 inhabitants.
The main economic activities are subsistence farming within family businesses and coffee production. It has an economic potential in the areas of coffee, tourism, specialised harvests and horticulture, commercial fishing in fresh water and livestock.
