On Tuesday, July 22, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste signed two cooperation agreements in the area of public finance, one with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and the other with the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, and a Protocol approving the Integrated Partnership Technical Assistance Program in the area of Public Finance with the Portuguese Republic.

The Cooperation Agreements in the area of Public Finance, signed with Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe, aim to develop a program of technical cooperation and assistance in this area.

Also in the area of Public Finance, the Protocol approving the Integrated Program in Technical Assistance Partnership (2014-2018), signed with Portugal, aims to contribute to strengthening the technical capacity of services and staff of the Ministry of Finance of Timor-Leste.

The Minister of Finance, Emilia Pires, signed the agreements on behalf of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Guinea-Bissau was represented by its Minister of Economy and Finance, João Geraldo Martins and Sao Tome and Principe by the Finance Minister, Hélio Almeida Ginesio. The Protocol with Portugal was signed by the Secretary of State for Fiscal Affairs, Paul Nuncio, and the Director of Planning, Strategy, Evaluation and International Relations of the Ministry of Finance, Álvaro Matias.