Meeting of the Council of Ministers of April 24, 2019
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers of April 24, 2019
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and heard a presentation by Roberto Caetano de Sousa Vicente, Executive Director of the Information and Communication Technology Agency I.P. (TIC Timor) concerning the status, plan and program of this public institute, under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister. TIC Timor, created in 2017, has the mission of implementing the policy and approved strategy on information and communication technologies and manages the IT network of the Government and other public entities, including the management of information and communication technologies infrastructure and information systems. During the presentation, the Executive Director of TIC Timor detailed the plan of action until 2030, with the objective of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery through the Electronic Government and, at the same time, implementing structures that allow a better national and international connection, more stable and more secure, while also defining and implementing standards that guarantee not only the compatibility of equipment and software, but also greater interoperability and data security, essential for government activity and for the relationship of citizens with public structures.
The Council of Ministers approved with amendments the proposed Decree-Law presented by the Acting Minister of the Interior, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus, on the import, transportation, storage and use of explosive products for the implementation of civil construction projects, petroleum activities and minerals. The approved Decree-Law establishes the rules, guidelines and special security procedures to be followed for the importation, transport, storage and use of commercial explosive products, in accordance with the needs of projects of public interest in the civil construction, mining and oil.
The Acting Minister of Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, presented the proposal for a Resolution, approved by the Council of Ministers, on the sixth amendment to the Development Agreement between the United States of America and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste for institutional strengthening and capacity-building for development. This agreement aims to contribute to a more prosperous, healthy and well-educated population with access to essential goods and services, where production and employment correspond to an emerging economy with opportunities for all, in a fair and inclusive way, facilitating the dynamic and innovative growth of the economy.
Sara Lobo Brites also presented the proposal, approved by the Council of Ministers, for a memorandum of understanding between the Government of Timor-Leste, the Government of Indonesia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on technical cooperation assistance and cross-border trade, to be signed on May 4, 2019, during the annual meeting of the ADB in the Republic of Fiji, by the Acting Minister of Finance of Timor-Leste, the Minister of Finance of Indonesia and the President of ADB. This memorandum follows the request made by the Governments of Timor-Leste and Indonesia to the ADB to support the strengthening of cross-border cooperation in order to promote the development of these regions. Between 2017 and 2018 an exploratory study was carried out that recommended three main areas of cooperation - transport and communications, tourism and livestock. This agreement will allow harmonization of border procedures to improve the link between the two countries, the expansion of the animal health certification system and the development of a joint tourist area focusing on sustainable and community tourism.
The Council of Ministers conferred on the Minister of Finance the full powers to sign the two agreements referred to above.
The Council of Ministers reviewed the proposal for a Resolution submitted by the Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion, Maria José da Fonseca Monteiro de Jesus, on the report of the national review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of the period 2014 and 2018. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a document created in 1995 in China at the Fourth World Conference on Women, aims to discuss actions to promote equality, development and peace for women. The document identifies 12 thematic priority areas for States to overcome obstacles faced by girls and women and achieve gender equality. The national report sets out the progress and key results achieved, and the challenges and obstacles encountered in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for the period 2014-2018 and will be submitted to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), on the 1st of May. It will be presented later in November 2019 in Bangkok at the regional level at the UN-ESCAP meeting and in March 2020 at the 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The report will be re-examined at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers. ENDS
