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Dili, October 25th, 2016
Press Release
Council of Ministers meeting of October 25th, 2016
The Council of Ministers met on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Dili, and analysed the report assessing the implementation of the first phase (2011-2015) of the Strategic Development Plan (SDP). This plan was prepared in 2010, with short, medium and long-term development goals, for the period from 2011 to 2030. The deadline for the short-term goals ended in 2015. This report, which is the responsibility of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit working within the Prime Minister’s Office, had support from the European Union Delegation in Timor-Leste. The main conclusions and considerations regarding results achieved during this first phase of the implementation of the SDP were presented to the Council of Ministers. The report will now be reviewed according to suggestions from government agencies.
The Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs presented the solar energy project proposed by the company Solar Power Hera Unipessoal Lda. from the group SBI Offshore Ltd. This project proposes the production of solar energy to add to the existing electrical distribution network system. The many advantages presented included the reduction of costs related to energy production, employment creation, faster electrification of rural areas and the reduction of pollution in the country.
The project for the creation of the National Institute of Social Security, IP, to manage and implement the Social Security system, was presented by the Ministry of Social Solidarity. Suggestions made by the Council of Ministers will now be incorporated in the Decree-Law, and the document will return to be analysed by the Council of Ministers in the near future.
The draft Government Resolution and draft document on the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) for the reduction of greenhouse gases were presented by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment. These were examined by the Government, in order to complete the documents, which should soon be presented to the United Nations (UN). National contributions were requested from countries participating in the UN Climate Change Conference, held in Paris in December 2015.
The proposal of the Prime Minister, to change the Law no. 7/2007, from July 25th, on the Status of the Holders of Sovereign Bodies was approved, in order to allow the promotion of members of sovereign bodies that are civil servants, ensuring that all holders (President of the Republic, President of the National Parliament, Prime Minister, President of the Supreme Court of Justice and members of the Government) can perform functions with a more demanding functional content and better suited to the experience and degree of responsibility that they acquired by virtue of the functions in the sovereign bodies.
The draft Government Resolution for completing the cooperation agreement with Portugal in matters of Internal Security, presented by the Minister of the Interior, was approved. This ensures the continuation of the current cooperation programmes for the training of Timorese security forces, services and civil protection. ENDS