Press Release

Council of Ministers meeting of January 10^th, 2017

The Council of Ministers met on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Dili, and the Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries submitted and saw approved the Memorandum of Understanding with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This UN agency aims to establish appropriate measures to promote creative intellectual activity and promote the transfer of technology related to industrial property (registration of trademarks, patents and others) and copyright. Currently, it has 189 member states and administers 26 international treaties.

The Minister of State also presented the decree-law on the national policy on food and nutritional security, which was approved. This national policy brings together various institutions and groups within and outside Government in the  National Food and Nutrition Security Council (in Portuguese: CONSSAN-TL) which reviews, monitors and recommends the adoption of policies, laws and regulations related to food and nutrition security. The Government recognizes that nutrition plays an essential role in ensuring a healthy population and a skilled productive workforce. Thus, it undertakes to work, in inter-ministerial coordination, in key development areas, including Agriculture, Fisheries, Health, Education, Infrastructure, Trade, Environment, Disaster Management and Social Protection. This policy is in line with the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 and with the application of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries’ (CPLP) Food Security Strategy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation saw approved the Government Decree which governs the transition of MNEC’s officials to the diplomatic career.

Following the national conference of Combatants and Veterans of the National Liberation (in Portuguese: CCLN), held in March 2016 in Dili, the Council of Ministers approved the Decree-Law that establishes the legal structure of the Combatants of the National Liberation Council. The Decree establishes the goals, operational structure skills and grants to CCLN Government consultation functions. It is intended that this Council will actively participate in the study, discussion and research of  issues related to security, national defence and the economic and social development of the country.

With the rapid growth of the population in the Capital and consequent increase in traffic, it became necessary to take concrete measures to regulate parking in Dili. To this end, the Council of Ministers approved the Decree-Law on the limited duration parking scheme. The draft law, submitted by the Minister of State, Coordinator of State Administration Affairs and Justice, and Minister of State Administration, allows drivers easier access to areas of the city where parking places are limited..

The Minister of Finance presented the Timor-Leste’s 2015 Census.