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Dili, July 14th, 2015
Press Release
Extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 14th, 2015
The Council of Ministers met extraordinarily this Tuesday, July 14th, 2015, in the meeting room of the Council of Ministers, at the Government Palace in Dili, and approved:
1. Decree-Law that approves the structure of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and the Environment
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and the Environment, according to the Structure of the Sixth Constitutional Government, is the “central agency from the Government responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy defined and approved by the Council of Ministers for the commercial, economic and industrial activity areas and the cooperative sector, as well as the environment”.
The Government Program highlights the need to continue the process of development of commercial and industrial activities promoted by Fifth Constitutional Government, to strengthen the private sector and contribute to poverty reduction.
The economic growth that we have witnessed in recent years requires a more efficient and effective ministerial structure, direct support to commercial and industrial activity areas, which also incorporates the cooperative sector. At the same time, progress towards sustainable development requires that environmental protection is taken as a priority in the government’s strategy to ensure the ecological balance and the quality of life of citizens.
Given these factors and the new governmental structure, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment has adopted an organizational structure based on bodies and departments working in the field of economic, commercial and industrial activities, in the cooperative sector and environmental protection, with the objectiveof achieving the goals of the Strategic Development Plan.
The Council of Ministers also analysed:
1. Report on the Implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families
The Secretary of State for Employment Policy and Vocational Training submitted to the Council of Ministers the Initial Report on the Implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, ratified by Timor-Leste in 2004. The report responds to the 29 questions set by the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, on measures taken by Member States to comply with the obligations of the Convention.
The document was prepared jointly with the Immigration Services, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Secretary of State for the Support and Socio-Economical Promotion of Women, and had the support of various state entities. The Government made also a public consultation with civil society, the private business sector and representatives of embassies in Timor-Leste.
2. Study on diet and nutrition in Timor-Leste
The Ministry of Health presented a study on food and nutrition, conducted in 2013 throughout the country, with three main objectives: to assess children’s and non-pregnant women nutritional level; check the malnutrition risk factors, including infant feeding practices; and determine the micronutrient levels and aflatoxin exposure (toxic substances from the decomposition of food) to children and non-pregnant women. The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines to the Government to combat food shortages and nutritional deficiencies in the country.