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Dili, November 8th, 2016
Press Release
Council of Ministers meeting of November 8th, 2016
The Council of Ministers met on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Dili, and endorsed the proposal from the Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs for the formalization of the candidacy of Timor-Leste to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The objective of the WTO, which has already more than 120 members, is “to ensure that trade flows are the simplest, predictable and free as possible”. Its main function is to manage the creation and implementation of a series of commercial agreements between its members. The accession of Timor-Leste will ensure a greater access to international markets for its exports. The WTO ensures not only greater ease in trade, but also access to technical expertise, support and a set of standards that promote the quality of imported products.
The Council of Ministers also approved three proposals presented by the Ministry of Finance. The first being the proposed loan from the Asian Development Bank to fund the National Highway 1 project, (between Manatuto and Baucau). The second, the opening and terms of the escrow account in the framework of the implementation of the public-private partnership for Tibar Port. Finally, the Government Resolution on the adoption of the standards of the revised Declaration of Arusha, from the World Customs Organization, on the effective management and ethics in customs matters. This Declaration, adopted in Arusha, Tanzania in 1993 and revised in 2003, contains the guiding principles for customs activity with respect to combating corruption.
The Ministry of Finance also presented two reports: one on the progress of the verification of contracted post-paid and pre-paid phone lines with Timor Telecom and another on the implementation of the 2016 General State Budget.
A project for the creation of a regime to control of movement of goods, vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds through land borders, on entry and exit from national territory, proposed by the Ministry of the Interior, was also analysed. This measure will comply with the second phase of the Internal Security Plan, mentioned in the Government Program, which proposes to continue the efforts to “improve effective operational capability in the prevention and investigation of crimes, the consolidation of public security and border control”. ENDS