Prime Minister

Taur Matan Ruak

The Prime Minister has his own competencies and those delegated to him by the Council of Ministers, in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

It is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to head the Government and to preside over the Council of Ministers; to direct and guide the general policy of the Government and all the governmental action; to represent the Government and the Council of Ministers in their relations with the President of the Republic and the National Parliament; to coordinate the integrated national security system; to guide the general policy of the Government in the areas of defense, security and national intelligence; to guide the Government’s general policy in its external relations and to represent the Government before the international community; to guide the Government’s general policy in the area of financial management, including the banking sector, the tax system and the investment of the Petroleum Fund; to exercise powers of tutelage over Oe-Cusse Ambeno Special Administrative Region and Oe-Cusse Ambeno and Ataúro’s Special Zones of Social Market Economy; to manage the government’s information technology system and ensure the provision of its services, as well as to implement computer systems in the national territory, in conjunction with the competent Government Departments; to promote the institutional strengthening of the State; to promote inclusion policies and support for women’s entrepreneurship; and to exercise other powers provided for in the Constitution and in law and not attributed to other members of the Government.

As the head of the Government, the Prime Minister has the power to issue directives to any member of the Government and to make decisions on matters included in the areas under any Ministry or Secretariat of State, as well as to create eventual or permanent committees or working groups on matters that are the responsibility of the Government.

The Prime Minister presides over the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the government department whose mission is to support the Council of Ministers and other members of the Government, as well as to promote the coordination of the various governmental departments.

In direct dependence of the Prime Minister are the following services and organisms: Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion; National Intelligence Service; Inter-ministerial Security Committee; Integrated Crisis Management Center; Civil Service Commission; AMRT – Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum; Centro Nacional Chega, I.P .; Agency of Information and Communication Technology, l.P. – ICT TIMOR; Office of Support to Civil Society; General Inspection of the State; National Institute of Public Administration; Interministerial Council for Fiscal Reform.

In his absences or impediments, the Prime Minister is replaced by the Deputy Prime Minister who is designated for this purpose or, if this is not possible, by the following member of Government, successively, in accordance with the order of precedence laid down in Article 3.

Vice Prime Minister

Armanda Berta dos Santos

The Vice Prime Ministers are, in terms of institutional precedence and protocol, immediately after the Prime Minister and above the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the other Ministers and members of the Government.

The Vice Prime Ministers depend functionally on the Prime Minister and are subject to his political supremacy.

The Vice Prime Ministers do not have their own powers, except for their respective offices, and in each case exercise the powers delegated to them by the Prime Minister or the Council of Ministers.

The Vice Prime Minister accumulates the functions of Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion.

The Vice Prime Ministers are replaced in their absences and impediments by the Minister who is appointed by the Prime Minister, based a proposal from the Deputy Prime Minister to be replaced.

Vice Prime Minister

José Maria dos Reis

The Vice Prime Ministers are, in terms of institutional precedence and protocol, immediately after the Prime Minister and above the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the other Ministers and members of the Government.

The Vice Prime Ministers depend functionally on the Prime Minister and are subject to his political supremacy.

The Vice Prime Ministers do not have their own powers, except for their respective offices, and in each case exercise the powers delegated to them by the Prime Minister or the Council of Ministers.

The Vice Prime Minister accumulates the functions of Minister of Planning and Territory.

The Vice Prime Ministers are replaced in their absences and impediments by the Minister who is appointed by the Prime Minister, based a proposal from the Deputy Prime Minister to be replaced.

Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers,

Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães

The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers is, in terms of institutional precedence and protocol, immediately after the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers and above the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, the other Ministers and the other members of the Government.

The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers depends functionally on the Prime Minister and is subject to his political supremacy.

The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers assists the Prime Minister in the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and in the coordination of the Government and assumes the functions of spokesperson for the Government and the Council of Ministers.

It is up to the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to coordinate the preparation and organization of Government work, as well as to monitor and evaluate the implementation of decisions taken by the Council of Ministers and to coordinate legal support and consultation with the Council of Ministers.

In addition to the functions already mentioned and other functions delegated by the Council of Ministers or the Prime Minister, it is also the responsibility of the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to coordinate the legislative and regulatory process of the Government, to analyze and prepare the draft legal and regulatory legislation of the Government, in coordination with the Ministries; ensure the litigation services of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers; prepare responses, in collaboration with the competent ministry, to the processes of review of constitutionality and legality; appoint a lawyer or represent the State in arbitration, mediation, conciliation and non-jurisdictional disputes, in accordance with the law; represent the Council of Ministers or the Prime Minister, when they so decide, in the specially created committees; carry out an in-depth study on law reform, uniformity and legislative harmonisation and, as well as the assessment of the need for government intervention or the National Parliament; propose and promote the modernisation of the legislative procedure; analyze and prepare the projects and proposals of legal and regulatory legislation of the Government, in coordination with the proposing ministries; propose policy measures that promote administrative reform, in particular through the modernisation and innovation of public administration and the use of Government instruments, as well as to ensure coordination and monitoring of the implementation of such measures.

The National Press of Timor-Leste, I.P., is subject to the superintendence and guardianship of the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers shall be replaced, in his absences or impediments, by the Minister who is appointed by the Prime Minister, on a proposal from the Minister.

Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs

Joaquim Amaral

The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs is, in terms of institutional precedence and protocol, immediately after the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and above the other Ministers and other members of the Government.

The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs assists the Prime Minister in coordinating and supervising the members of Government responsible for implementing policies for economic governance areas, including: the Minister for Tourism, Trade and Industry; the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries; the Secretary of State for Employment and Vocational Training; the Secretary of State for Cooperatives; and the Secretary of State for the Environment.

The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs is responsible for coordinating the preparation, implementation and control of the policy defined by the Council of Ministers in the areas of economy, labour, vocational training and the environment; monitoring and evaluating the work and provision of services provided for in the preceding paragraph; propose and develop economic public policies that contribute to improving the provision of services to citizens; propose policies and legislation and establish mechanisms related to the promotion of public and private investment, national and international, in conjunction with relevant entities; promote the development of the national private sector and formulate policies and mechanisms to support and encourage the development of the sector; promote dialogue with the national private sector on the country’s development and combat unemployment; promoting job creation and vocational training; promote and implement environmental policy, ensure the protection and conservation of nature and biodiversity, monitor potentially harmful activities of flora and fauna and ensure national development in an environmentally sustainable manner; promote the development of the cooperative sector, mainly in rural areas and in the agriculture sector, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; disseminating the importance of the cooperative economic sector and micro and small enterprises and promote training in the constitution, organisation, management and accounting of cooperatives and small enterprises; Organize, administer and keep updated the National Register of Cooperatives; Implement environmental policy and evaluate the results achieved; Promote, monitor and support environmental integration strategies in sectoral policies; Carry out strategic environmental assessment of policies, plans, programs and legislation and coordinate the environmental impact assessment processes of projects at national level; Ensure, in general terms and in environmental licensing, the adoption and supervision of measures for the prevention and integrated control of pollution by the installations covered by it.

It is also up to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs to set up mechanisms to support and finance job creation and vocational training projects; Promote the tripartite relationship between the Government, employers and workers with the aim of preventing labor conflicts; Promote mediation, conciliation and arbitration services in the context of industrial relations; Encourage the hiring of Timorese abroad; Regulate the regime of the work of foreigners in Timor-Leste and coordinate its supervision with the Ministry of the Interior; Promote the review of compliance with legal provisions on work; Promote the supervision of health conditions, safety and hygiene at work; ensure coordination with relevant entities contributing to economic development; Promote the monitoring of the functioning of commercial establishments, especially those in the food and beverage sector, in relation to compliance with food and economic safety rules.

Under the dependency of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs are: the National Centre for Vocational Training and Employment of Tibar; the National Center for Vocational Training of Becora; the National Institute for Labor Development; the General Labor Inspectorate; SERVE – Business Registration and Verification Service; Institute for Business Development Support; Tradeinvest – Investment and Export Promotion Agency; AIFAESA – Agency for Research and Supervision of Economic, Sanitary and Food Activity, I.P; and the National Logistics Center.

The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs meets ordinarily, once a month, with the members of the Government of the governance area of which he is responsible and with the top leaders of the entities he oversees, informing the Prime Minister.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Social Communication

Francisco Martins da Costa Pereira Jerónimo

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Media is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers for the area of media and parliamentary affairs, in particular with the task of ensuring regular coordination with the National Parliament; Represent the Government at the Conference of Representatives of the Parliamentary Benches and in the plenary sessions of the National Parliament, when there is the absence or impediment of the Prime Minister or the ministers responsible for the matter; Propose the policy and develop the necessary legislation and regulations in the area of media; Exercise oversight and guardianship over the state’s media; Coordinate the dissemination of information on government programs and actions.

RTTL – Radio and Television of Timor-Leste, EP and TATOLI, Timor-Leste News Agency, IP, are dependent on the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Media.

Minister of Finance

Rui Augusto Gomes

The Ministry of Finance is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of annual planning and monitoring of the budget and public finances, and is responsible, inter alia, to propose monetary and foreign exchange policies in collaboration with the Central Bank of Timor-Leste; propose the policy and draw up the necessary draft regulations on macroeconomics, tax and non-tax revenues, budgetary framework, procurement, public accounting, public finances, audit and control of the State treasury, issuance and management of public debt, as well as promoting tax, customs, public finance and financial management reform; Administer the Timor-Leste oil fund and other public funds, the administration of which does not fall under other government departments; Coordinate projects and programs between Timor-Leste and development partners, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and other relevant ministries; Manage external public debt, state participations and development partnerships, with the coordination and definition of financial and fiscal aspects; Ensure the exercise of the function of state shareholder in coordination with the competent Ministries on the various matters; Negotiate, sign and manage the implementation of public-private partnership contracts, ensuring their financial assessment, with a view to an adequate risk sharing between the State and the private partner and the sustainability of each project; Manage the State’s assets, without prejudice to the Ministry of Justice’s responsibilities in the area of real estate; Promote the management policy of the State’s movable property, in collaboration with the other competent public entities; Ensure the supply of goods to all ministries; Prepare and publish official statistics; Promote the necessary regulation and exercise financial control over the expenditure of the General State Budget that are allocated to the other Ministries, in the context of the pursuit of a policy of greater financial autonomy of services; Ensure the sound management of the financing made through the General State Budget, by the bodies of the indirect administration of the State and local governance bodies, through audits and monitoring; Coordinate national and international technical assistance promoted by international entities or organizations in the field of technical advice to Government agencies and in conjunction with the relevant ministries; Exercise customs jurisdiction in accordance with the law; Develop financial management information systems in all public administration services and bodies, in the development of the ‘e-government’ process; Promote the implementation of program budgeting policy with the aim of increasing efficiency in the use of public money; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with guardianship on related areas.

The Tax Authority, the Customs Authority and the National Procurement Commission are dependent of the Ministry of Finance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of foreign policy and international cooperation, consular functions and the promotion and defense of the interests of Timorese citizens abroad, and it is in its right to plan, propose and implement Timor-Leste’s foreign policy and ensure its unity and coherence; Develop legislative and regulatory projects in their respective areas of responsibility; Negotiate and propose the conclusion of international treaties and agreements in accordance with Timor-Leste’s foreign policy priorities, without prejudice to the powers of other bodies in the delimitation of borders; Promote Timor-Leste’s interests abroad and ensure the protection of Timorese citizens abroad; Ensure the representation of Timor-Leste in other States and International Organizations and manage the network of embassies, missions, permanent and temporary representations and consular posts, according to foreign policy priorities; Plan and execute the preparation for Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ensure the country’s representation in its meetings and activities; Coordinate Timor-Leste’s participation with the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) and ensure the country’s representation in its meetings and activities; Centralize and coordinate the relations of any public entities with diplomatic or consular missions, with international organizations and with the representations of cooperation services accredited in Timor-Leste; Propose and implement international cooperation policy, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant government institutions; Coordinate, together with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant government departments, Timor-Leste’s relations with development partners; to carry out its tasks in relation to matters of economic diplomacy; Perform the functions of National Authorizing Officer; Establish cooperation mechanisms with foreign missions established in the country; Establish mechanisms of collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with guardianship on related areas of activity; Organize, streamline or participate in any type of activities that are necessary for the establishment and operation of a sub-regional integrated economic cooperation and development platform between Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Australia.

Dependent on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation are the AACTL – Timor-Leste Cooperation Agency and the Institute of Diplomatic Studies.

Minister of Justice

Tiago Amaral Sarmento

The Ministry of Justice is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the area of justice, law and human rights and land and property, and it is responsible, inter alia, to propose the policy and prepare the draft legislation and regulations necessary for its areas of tutelage; Propose measures on the definition of traditional justice regulation mechanisms and their interaction with the formal system; Propose and implement measures to extend the judicial map; Propose the definition of criminal policy and ensure its implementation and the good administration of justice; Regulate and manage the Legal and Judicial Training Center and promote the training of human resources for the different areas of activity of the justice sector; Promote coordination and dialogue between all judicial actors, as well as ensure their participation in the discussion and drafting of proposals for legislation and regulations of the judiciary; Regulate and manage the prison system, the execution of sentences and social reintegration services; ensure adequate mechanisms for access to law and courts, in particular for the most disadvantaged citizens, in the fields of legal information and legal consultation and legal aid, including through the Public Defender’s Office and other entities and structures of justice; Create and ensure appropriate mechanisms to ensure citizenship rights and promote the dissemination of existing laws and regulations; Organize the mapping and registration of land and buildings and the registration of real estate; ensure, as a measure to promote access to the right of citizens, a legal translation service responsible for the use of official languages in the areas of law and justice; Manage and monitor the system of registry and notary services; Manage the current real estate of the State; Promote and guide the legal training of judicial careers and other civil servants; Ensure international relations in the field of justice policy, in particular with other governments and international organizations, without prejudice to the powers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

It is also up to the Ministry of Justice to establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with tutelage over related areas. For the development of this policy, the Minister of Justice should propose and promote the creation of an interministerial commission to oversee and monitor land registration and implement a system of real estate registration.

The Ministry of Justice has under its tutelage the Centre for Legal and Judicial Training, the Scientific Police of Criminal Investigation and the Public Defender’s Office.

Minister of State Administration

Miguel Pereira de Carvalho

The Ministry of State Administration is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of local government, administrative decentralization, support to community organizations, promotion of local development, organization and execution of electoral and referenda processes, promotion of hygiene and urban organization and classification and conservation of official documents with historical value, in particular, it is responsible for promoting and conducting the process of administrative decentralization and installation of local authorities’ bodies and services; Propose and implement the local government law, the municipal electoral law and the law on finance, heritage and municipal supply and other legal and regulatory regulations necessary for administrative decentralization and the installation of representative bodies of local government; Support the permanent assistance leading to the process of deconcentration and administrative decentralization, in coordination with the Ministries and other relevant entities; Promote cooperation agreements with local authorities of other States, with a view to deepening the decentralization process, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Coordinate and supervise the activities of the peripheral services of the Ministry; Establish and operationalize mechanisms of collaboration and coordination with other public administration bodies with guardianship on related areas; Propose public policies and legislative initiatives related to their areas of guardianship; Propose and apply legislation for the promotion of hygiene and urban public order, without prejudice to the powers of the Local Government; Propose and apply the legal rules on toponymy, without prejudice to the powers of local government bodies; Ensure technical support to electoral and referenda processes; promote local and rural development policies to reduce economic and social inequalities, in cooperation with other government bodies for their implementation; Establish and operationalize mechanisms of collaboration and technical support to community leaders; Ensure the coordination and implementation of the Municipal Integrated Development Planning; Ensure the coordination and implementation of the National Suco Development Program; Develop and implement policies and mechanisms to support community and sucos development; Propose and develop standards and technical instructions for classification, treatment and archiving of historical documents and State documents; Promote the recovery, preservation and proper custody of historical documents and state documents.

The Technical Secretariat of Electoral Administration and the National Archives are dependent on the Minister of State Administration.

Minister of Health

Odete Maria Freitas Belo

The Ministry of Health is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of health and pharmaceutical activities, and it is responsible, in particular, to propose the policy and prepare the draft regulations necessary for its areas of tutelage; Ensure access to health care for all citizens; Coordinate activities related to epidemiological control; Provide technical support for health care in municipalities and regions, either directly or through local government; Carry out the health control of products with influence on human health; Promote the training of health professionals; Contribute to successful humanitarian assistance, peace promotion, security and socio-economic development through coordination mechanisms and collaboration with other government bodies under guardianship over related areas; Implement the drug policy, regulate the pharmaceutical activity and supervise it in conjunction with the Agency for Investigation and Supervision of Economic, Sanitary and Food Activity, I.P.; Promote academic training, qualification and professional specialization of health professionals; Promote the ethics of health professionals; Develop and promote the complementary use of traditional medicine.

The Ministry of Health has under it’s tutelage the Hospitals of the National Health Service, the Autonomous Service of Medicines and Medical Equipment, EP (SAMES), the National Institute of Health, the National Health Laboratory, the National Ambulance service and Medical Emergency.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sports

Armindo Maia

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is the Government department responsible for designing, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of education and qualification of all levels of education, excluding higher education, consolidation and promotion of official languages, youth and sport, and it is responsible, inter alia, for proposing and ensuring policies relating to pre-school and school education, comprising primary and secondary education and integrating special modalities of education, for the promotion of recurrent education and lifelong learning; Participate in the definition and implementation of qualification and vocational training policies; Ensure the right to education and ensure compulsory schooling in order to promote inclusion and equal opportunities; Strengthen teaching and learning conditions, contributing to the integral development of the student, to the improvement of school success and to the qualification of the population, with a view to greater employability; Define the national curriculum at the various levels of education and the assessment scheme for students and approve the teaching programs, as well as the guidelines for their implementation; Ensure and promote the quality teaching of official languages, including the strengthening of learning results in Portuguese and the consolidation and regularization of the Tetum language; Promote the creation of an entity responsible for the consolidation, standardization and promotion of the Tetum language; Promote and manage public pre-school, primary and secondary schools and strengthen their capacity to respond to population needs, as well as support initiatives in private and cooperative education, including community; Promote effective and quality school management and administration and ensure the assessment and accreditation of the preschool education system and the primary and secondary education system; Promote the training and evaluation of education professionals and ensure the implementation of legislation on teaching careers; design policy measures in the areas of youth and sport, as well as their organization, funding, implementation and evaluation, promoting integration with education initiatives; Promote activities aimed at the practice of sport and physical education in general, as well as high competition sports as a factor of sports development and representation of the country in international competitions; ensure the implementation of the legal and regulatory framework for activities related to sport and high competition; Establish mechanisms for collaboration with civil society organizations working in the field of sport; Create mechanisms to support and finance projects for the practice of physical education and sport; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other Government bodies under tutelage on related areas in the implementation of the national education, youth and sport policy; Promote active inclusion policies in the areas of education, youth and sport, especially through inclusive education measures and the participation of people with disabilities; ensure and promote gender equality within the areas within its competence, in coordination with the relevant public authorities; Plan and implement a system of analysis and monitoring in order to assess the results and impact of education, youth and sport policies.

The National Sports Commission (CND), the Martial Arts Regulatory Commission (CRAM), the National Institute for Teacher and Education Training (INFORDEPE) are dependent on the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport.

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture

Longuinhos dos Santos

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture is the central body of the Government responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of higher education and qualification, as well as for the areas of science, technology, arts and culture, and is responsible, in particular, for designing policy measures in the areas of higher education , science, arts and culture and technology, as well as their organization, financing, implementation and evaluation; Promote equal opportunities in access to higher education, science and the enjoyment of cultural goods; Promote the development, modernization, quality, competitiveness and international recognition of higher education and scientific and technological systems; Promote the link between scientific and technological higher education institutions, and between them and the productive system; Promote the permanent evaluation and inspection of higher education, scientific and technological establishments; Promote the evaluation of higher education professionals; Plan a system of analysis and monitoring in order to assess the results and impacts of higher education policies; Assess the results and impacts of higher education; Develop policy and regulations for the conservation, protection and preservation of historical and cultural heritage; Propose policies for the definition and development of arts and culture; Promote the creation of cultural centers of municipal scope, in conjunction with the local administration and with the objective of fostering national cohesion; Establish policies for cooperation and cultural exchange with CPLP countries and cultural organizations and countries in the region; Establish cooperation policies with UNESCO; Develop programs, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, for the introduction of artistic education and culture in the teaching of Timor-Leste; Promote creative industries and artistic creation in Timor-Leste, in its various areas; Ensure the proper preservation of official and historical documents on the basis of competence; Protect rights relating to artistic and literary creation.

The following services and bodies are dependent on the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture: National University Timor Lorosa’e – UNTL; Betano Polytechnic Institute; National Institute of Science and Technology; UNESCO National Commission; National Agency for Academic Evaluation and Accreditation (ANAAA); Technical Secretariat of the Human Capital Development Fund; Implementation Unit of the Academy of Arts, Culture and Cultural Creative Industries; Monitoring Committee of the Academy of Arts, Culture and Cultural Creative Industries; National Library of Timor-Leste; National Museum of Timor-Leste.

Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion

Armanda Berta dos Santos

The Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of social security, social assistance and community reintegration, and is responsible, inter alia, for designing and implementing social security systems for workers and other population; Develop social assistance programs; Promoting humanitarian aid for the most disadvantaged; Propose and develop policies and strategies in disaster risk management with social impact; Develop and implement social assistance programs in disaster risk management, including emergency response and post-disaster recovery; provide for the monitoring, protection and community reintegration of vulnerable groups; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with guardianship on related areas.

The National Institute of Social Security, IP, the National Rehabilitation Center, the Commission on the Rights of children, the Commission to Combat HIV/AIDS are dependent on the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion.

Minister for the Affairs of National Liberation Combatants

Júlio Sarmento da Costa “Meta Mali”

The Ministry for the Affairs of Combatants of National Liberation is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the affairs of former National Liberation Combatants, and it is responsible, inter alia, for the design of policy measures, legislation and regulations for the affairs of the National Liberation Combatants, as well as their financing, implementation and evaluation; Coordinate and plan government policies in matters related to National Liberation Combatants; Promote the registration of National Liberation Combatants, in accordance with the law; Implement pension and other financial benefits programs for National Liberation Combatants and families in accordance with the law; Provide monitoring and inclusion in the society of veterans and National Liberation Combatants; Promote, in coordination with the Presidency of the Republic and the Commission of Honor, Supervision of Registration and Resources, the holding of ceremonies of valorization, demobilization and public recognition of the National Liberation Combatants, in particular through official decorations, building memorials to martyrs and other relevant actions; Maintain a service of research, archive and dissemination of the history of the national liberation struggle; Promote a thorough review of the National Liberation Combatants registration database; maintain a database of registration, processing, analysis and supervision that supports their activities; Promote and plan support programs for the National Liberation Combatants, in particular in the areas of health, education and technical-vocational training, employment, access to credit and income-generating activities; Develop assistance and support programs for National Liberation Combatants; Promote demobilization, retirement and pension programs to be allocated to National Liberation Combatants; Provide monitoring and inclusion in the society of veterans and National Liberation Combatants; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with guardianship on related areas; Exercise the other duties conferred upon them by law.

The Commission for Homage, Supervision of the Registration and Appeal of National Liberation Combatants is dependent on the Ministry of for the Affairs of National Liberation Combatants.

Minister of Planning and Territory

José Maria dos Reis

The Ministry of Planning and Territory is the Government department responsible for the design, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of promotion of economic and social development of the country, through strategic and integrated planning and rationalization of available financial resources, assuming specific responsibilities on the implementation of the Strategic Development Plan, especially with regard to infrastructure and Urban Planning, Petroleum and Minerals, Planning and Territory.

It is up to the Ministry of Planning and Territory to plan, propose and coordinate the implementation of strategic infrastructures.

It is also the responsibility of the Ministry of Planning and Territory to supervise the quality of work and the activities of the execution of physical projects promoted, developed or financed by the Infrastructure Fund or others, whose purposes or attributions are the financing of multiannual strategic projects and the Private Public Partnerships Unit of the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Planning and Territory, in accordance with the above and based on the statistical and registration data made available by the competent services, has the following specific tasks: to evaluate development capital projects, based on the careful analysis of the feasibility of the projects and their cost-benefit; Supervise, monitor and certify the implementation and implementation of projects, contributing to the rationalization of available financial resources and economic development and economic activity, both at national, district and local level; Plan and control the costs and quality of development capital projects; Promote transparency and quality by providing procurement services for development capital projects; Develop studies, opinions and technical and sectoral analyses to assess the impact and economic viability of development projects; Analyze and select investment proposals for the country; Study, plan and propose sectoral development policies; Study, plan and propose the national land planning policy, in coordination with the relevant government departments; Help promote the adoption of technical and regulatory standards for materials used in construction, as well as develop laboratory tests to ensure the safety of buildings; Propose and develop the national policy of natural resources and minerals; support the development of the legal and regulatory framework for activities related to renewable energy resources; support studies on the capacity of renewable energy resources and alternative energies; Keep an information archive on renewable energy operations and resources; Contribute to the development of national transport and communications policy; Help prepare and develop, in cooperation with other public services, the implementation of the national road plan; Support the coordination and promotion of a management and maintenance system and the modernization of airport, air navigation, roads, ports and related services infrastructure; Promote the creation of the National Development Bank, in coordination with the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister of Finance; Study, plan and implement spatial planning and national housing policy, in coordination with the relevant Ministries.

The National Development Agency and the Secretariat for Major Projects are dependent on the Minister of Planning and Territory.

Minister of Public Works

Abel Pires da Silva

The Ministry of Public Works is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of public works, housing, supply, distribution and management of water, sanitation and electricity and execution of urban planning and housing, and it is responsible, in particular, to propose and execute the lines of the Ministry’s policy in the fields of public works, housing, water distribution, water management, sanitation and electricity; Execute the territorial planning plans and the national housing policy, in coordination with the Ministry of Planning and Territory; Ensure the implementation of the legal and regulatory framework of the Ministry’s activities; Create and implement the legal and regulatory framework for construction activity and research on building materials; study, plan and carry out the construction works necessary for the protection, conservation and repair of bridges, roads, river and sea coasts, in particular with a view to flood control; promote the study and implementation of new infrastructure network systems for the distribution of water and water resources, as well as basic sanitation, and monitor their operation and exploitation, without prejudice to the tasks committed in these areas to other bodies; Establish coordination and promote the quality of physical projects executed by the State; promote the construction, conservation and repair of public buildings, monuments and special installations, in cases where this is legally committed to it; License and supervise all urban buildings, including private or public buildings, in accordance with applicable legislation; Promote the adoption of technical and regulatory standards for materials used in civil construction, as well as develop laboratory tests to ensure the safety of buildings; Operate and maintain the infrastructures of production, transmission and distribution of electricity, as well as promote the planning and expansion of the national electricity network; maintain and develop a national system of information and surveillance on the state of works and on building materials, including the effects of floods on infrastructure; Ensure the coordination of the renewable energy sector and stimulate complementarity between its various modes, as well as its competitiveness, in order to better satisfy users; Regular, in coordination with other ministries, operators in the area of electricity production; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with guardianship on related areas.

Under the tutelage of the Minister of Public Works are the Institute of Equipment Management – IP; Electricity of Timor-Leste E.P.; the National Authority for Electricity I.P.; Bee Timor-Leste E.P.; and the National Authority for Water and Sanitation I.P..

Minister of Transport and Communications

José Agustinho da Silva

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of transport and communications, and is responsible, for the proposal and implementation of the Ministry’s policy lines in the transport and communications sectors; Formulate, develop and ensure the implementation of the legal and regulatory framework for the transport and communications sectors; Develop and regulate the activity of transport and communications, as well as optimize the communication; Ensure the coordination of the transport sector and stimulate complementarity between its various modes, as well as its competitiveness, in order to better satisfy users; Promote management, as well as the adoption of technical and regulatory standards regarding the public use of communications services; ensure the provision of public telecommunications services and the use of radio space, through public undertakings or by granting the provision of public service to private entities; maintain and develop national meteorological and seismic information and surveillance systems, including the construction and maintenance of their infrastructure; promote and coordinate scientific research and technological development in the fields of civil land, air and sea transport; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with guardianship on related areas.

The Port Administration of Timor-Leste – APORTIL, the Airport and Air Navigation Administration – ANATL EP, the Civil Aviation Authority of Timor-Leste – AACTL and the AANC – National Communications Authority are dependent on the Minister of Transport and Communications.

Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry

José Lucas do Carmo da Silva

The Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of policies, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers for the areas of tourism, commercial and industrial economic activities, and is responsible for proposing policies and preparing the draft legislation and regulations necessary for its areas of protection; Design, implement and evaluate tourism, trade and industry policies; contribute to boosting economic activity, including national and international competitiveness; support the activities of economic actors by promoting the necessary steps to enhance solutions that make the procedure simpler and faster; Appreciate and license projects of facilities and operation of tourist, commercial and industrial enterprises; Inspect and supervise tourism, commercial and industrial activities and enterprises, in accordance with the law; Maintain and manage a business information and documentation center; Propose the qualification and classification of industrial enterprises in accordance with applicable legislation; Organize and administer the registration of industrial property; Promote internal and international rules of standardization, metrology and quality control, measurement standards of units and physical magnitude; Contribute to boosting the tourism sector and propose measures and public policies relevant to its development; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and cooperation with national and international organizations whose action targets the areas of activity of the Ministry, namely with the Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-TL), World Trade Organization, World Tourism Organization and Pacific Asia Tourism Organization; Support the activities of economic agents in the tourism sector, promoting the necessary steps to enhance solutions that make the processing of their licensing simpler and faster; Give an opinion on requests for prior information for the establishment of tourist companies; Evaluate and license the projects of facilities and supervise the operation of tourist enterprises in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works, as well as qualify and classify them; Supervise, inspect and track social and fun games, game machines and traditional games; Propose the draft legislation and regulations necessary for the exercise of casino activity; Maintain and manage an information and documentation center on companies and activities in the tourism sector; Suspend and revoke the license to carry out tourist activities in accordance with the law; Develop the annual plan of promotional activities for the development of tourism with its cost estimate; Implement legislation on the installation, licensing and verification of the operating conditions of tourism equipment; establish mechanisms for collaboration with other Government services and bodies with guardianship on related areas, including the services responsible for the planning and physical development of the territory, with a view to promoting the strategic areas of tourism, commercial or industrial development; Collaborate, with competent public agencies and institutes, in the promotion and dissemination of Timor-Leste, with investors and tour operators, ensuring the dissemination of the necessary information.

The Institute for Quality of Timor-Leste, IP, the Dili Convention Center – CCD, the Tourism and Tourist Information Centers, the Food Courts and the Pousadas are dependent on the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries

Pedro dos Reis

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of agriculture, forests, fisheries and livestock, and is responsible for proposing the policy and preparing the draft legislation and regulations necessary for its areas of protection; Ensure the implementation and continuity of rural development programs, in coordination with other government departments with responsibilities in the field of rural development; Set up technical support centers for farmers; Manage technical-agricultural education; Promote agrarian research and the optimization of agricultural land; Control the use of land for agricultural production purposes; Promote and supervise animal health; Promote the agricultural and fishing industry; Promote and monitor food production, including seed production; Manage Quarantine Services; Promote, in coordination with the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, rural development, implementing a cooperative system for the production and marketing of agricultural production; carry out feasibility studies for the installation of irrigation and water storage systems, as well as the construction of their facilities; Manage forest resources and river basins in coordination with the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Public Works; promote the production of industrial plants, in particular for coffee cultivation; Manage water resources for agricultural purposes; Promote and monitor the fisheries and aquaculture sector; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with guardianship on related areas; Manage National Parks, Protected Areas and Botanical Garden; Ensure the protection and conservation of nature and biodiversity, supervising the implementation of the policy and supervising activities harmful to the integrity of the national fauna and flora, in collaboration with related entities.

The Institute for Research, Development, Training and Promotion of Bamboo, IP, is under the tutelage of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Minister of Defense

Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus

The Ministry of Defense is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the policy, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of national defense and military cooperation, and is responsible for proposing and implementing the policy on the military component of national defense; Develop the draft legislation and regulations necessary for the defense area; Promote strategic-military diplomacy, coordinating and guiding activities arising from military commitments undertaken under instruments of international law and bilateral and multilateral agreements, as well as relations with states and international military bodies, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Ensure the maintenance of relations in the field of defense policy with other countries and international organizations, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the other State Bodies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, within the framework of the objectives set for Timorese foreign policy; Coordinate and monitor, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, cooperation actions developed by international organizations, States or defense forces of other countries in support of the development of their areas of responsibility, within the framework of the international agreements referred to in the preceding paragraph; Manage and supervise the Timor-Leste Defense Forces; Promote the adequacy of military means, monitor and inspect their use; Supervise maritime and air navigation for military purposes; Exercise the guardianship, administration and supervision of the Maritime Authority; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other government agencies with guardianship on related areas.

The Institute of National Defense is under de dependency of the Minister of Defense.

Minister of the Interior

Taur Matan Ruak

The Ministry of the Interior is the Government department responsible for the design, implementation, coordination and evaluation of policies, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers, for the areas of internal security, migration and asylum, border control, civil protection, road security and police cooperation, and is responsible for proposing, coordinating and implementing internal security, migration and asylum policies, border control, civil protection and road safety; Participate in the definition, coordination and implementation of national security policy; Develop the draft legislation and regulations necessary for their areas of guardianship; Exercise superintendence and protection of Timor-Leste security forces and services; Exercise powers of direction, oversight and guardianship of the Civil Protection Authority, which is part of the Fire Department; Ensure and maintain public order and tranquility; ensure the protection of the freedom and security of persons and their property; Ensure the security of the State’s real estate and furniture; Preventing and suppressing crime; Control the movement of people at borders, entry, residence and residence, departure and removal of foreigners from the national territory; Control the activities of import, manufacture, marketing, licensing, possession and use of weapons, ammunition and explosives, without prejudice to the proper attributions of other government bodies; Regulate, monitor and control the exercise of private security activity; Preventing disasters and serious accidents and providing protection and relief to people affected in the event of fires, floods, landslides, earthquakes and in all situations that put them at risk; Propose and develop policies and strategies in disaster risk management; Develop and implement programs in disaster risk management, including civic education, prevention, mitigation, emergency response and recovery after the disaster in conjunction with other relevant entities; Coordinate and monitor municipal security councils; Promote the development of the strategy for the prevention, mediation and resolution of Community conflicts; Promote the adequacy of police means, monitor and inspect their use; Ensure the maintenance of relations in the field of internal security policy with other countries and international organizations, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, within the framework of the objectives set for Timorese foreign policy; Negotiate, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, international agreements on internal security, criminal investigation, migration and border control and civil protection; Coordinate and monitor, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, cooperation actions developed by international organizations, States or security forces and services of other countries, in support of the development of their areas of protection, within the framework of the international agreements referred to in the preceding paragraph; Establish mechanisms for collaboration and coordination with other Government agencies with guardianship on related areas.

Minister of Petroleum and Minerals

Víctor da Conceição Soares

The Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals is the Government department responsible for the design and implementation of energy policy and management of mineral resources, including oil and other strategic ores, approved by the Council of Ministers, as well as for the licensing and regulation of extractive activity, industrial activity to benefit petroleum and minerals, including petrochemicals and refining , in particular, it is responsible for drawing up and proposing the policy and draft legislation of the sector; Establish the system of the sector’s administration and management and regulate the activities of the sector; Ensure Timor-Leste’s maximum participation in the activity of the petroleum sector and mineral resources through the appropriate legal, administrative and technical instruments; Promote national opportunities in the sector in order to attract and fix the external investment devoted to it; Monitor the implementation of the Treaties and the sectoral implementation of the relevant instruments; Conduct negotiations on the development model of the ‘Greater Sunrise Field’ or other matters relating to the exercise of jurisdiction in the Timor Sea, as well as in the area of the “Special Regime of the Greater Sunrise” pursuant to the “Treaty between Australia and the Democratic Republic of East Timor Establishing Their Borders in the Timor Sea”, signed in New York on 6 March 2018; Advise the Government on petroleum and mining issues related to the delimitation of the maritime and land borders of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and appoint representatives and consultants to integrate their technical teams; Coordinate the execution of the ‘Tasi Mane’ project, creating the legal and institutional structures deemed necessary or appropriate for it, and licensing and monitoring the activities carried out in areas territorially dedicated to the ‘Tasi Mane’ project; Determine, in accordance with the general conditions laid down by law, the specific contractual terms for the exploration and use of petroleum resources and mining licenses; ensure mandatory minimum fuel reserves and their regular supply to the market and public energy production units; Regulate, authorize and supervise the activities of “downstream”, as defined in Decree-Law No. 1/2012 of 1 February, and the supplementary regulations, in particular, of import, export, transport, storage, distribution and marketing, wholesale or retail, of fuels and other petroleum products, as well as the import of crude oil and natural gas and other raw materials for refining and other petrochemical activities; Ensure gas resources for domestic consumption in Timor-Leste, for housing and industrial purposes, and promote and develop the necessary projects for an efficient and safe use of them; Promote and develop initiatives aimed at training and qualifying Timorese workers for the activities under its tutelage, in coordination with Ministries and other relevant public or private entities; Authorize and license, downstream of extraction, the projects of the manufacturing industry related to the processing, treatment, conversion or processing of crude oil, its derivatives and minerals, in particular refineries, gas liquefaction units or petrochemicals; Considering the complexity and technical expertise of the oil and mineral resources sector, conduct the respective environmental licensing procedures and approve the corresponding environmental licenses in that sector; Exercise the powers of superintendence and tutelage over the indirect administration of the State, both institutional and business, which operates in the sector; Develop knowledge and research of the geological structure of soils and subsoils and national hydrogeological resources; Propose to the Council of Ministers the enumeration and classification of strategic minerals; Propose to the Council of Ministers the approval of the terms of reference applicable to each public tender and approve the attribution of Mining Rights; Propose to the Council of Ministers the approval of the model of the Mining Contract; Carry out, in legal terms, the conclusion of Mining Contracts, the issuance of Prospecting, Research and Production Licenses and the issuance of authorizations to extend existing Mineral Rights to cover other Minerals as well as to approve all studies, reports and projects that are within their competence; Determine the termination or redemption of Mining Rights, in the legal and contractually established terms; authorize the assignment or transfer of mining rights, as well as the change of control in a company holding mining rights; Act as an entity beneficiary of the expropriation and conduct the expropriation process, pursuant to Law No. 8/2017 of April 26, in relation to expropriation by public utility and constitution of administrative services necessary for the performance of the activities of their competence or subject to their supervision or guardianship; Any other laws applicable to the sector; Propose and promote the creation of a public company whose object is conducting mining activities, including the activities of recognition, exploration and research, evaluation, development, exploration and treatment, processing, refining and commercialization of mineral resources.

The National Petroleum and Minerals Authority, Timor Gap, EP and the Institute of Petroleum and Geology, IP, are under the dependency of the Minister of Petroleum and Minerals.

Vice Minister of Finance

António Freitas

The Vice Minister of Finance assists the Minister of Finance in the performance of his duties.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

Julião da Silva

The Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation assists the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the performance of her duties.

Vice Minister of Justice

José Edmundo Caetano

The Vice Minister of Justice assists the Minister of Justice in the performance of his duties.

Vice Minister of State Administration

Lino de Jesus Torrezão

The Vice Minister of State Administration assists the Minister of State Administration in the performance of his duties.

Vice Minister of Health

Bonifácio Mau Coli dos Reis

The Vice Minister of Health assists the Minister of Health in the performance of her duties.

Vice Minister of Education, Youth and Sport

António Guterres

The Vice Minister for Education, Youth and Sport assists the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport in the performance of his duties.

Vice Minister of Social Solidarity

Signi Chandrawati Verdial

The Vice Minister of Social Solidarity assists the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion in the performance of her duties.

Vice Minister of Public Works

Nicolau Lino Freitas Belo

The Vice Minister of Public Works assists the Minister of Public Works in the performance of his duties.

Vice Minister of Community and Cultural Tourism

Inacia da Conceição Teixeira

The Vice Minister for Community and Cultural Tourism assists the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry in the performance of his duties.

Vice Minister of Trade and Industry

Domingos Lopes Antunes

The Vice Minister of Trade and Industry assists the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry in the performance of his duties.

Vice Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries

Abílio Xavier de Araújo

The Vice Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries assists the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in the performance of his duties.

Vice Minister of the Interior

António Armindo

The Vice Minister of the Interior assists the Minister of the Interior in the performance of his duties.

State Secretary for Vocational Training and Employment

Alarico de Rosário

The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment assists the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for Cooperatives

Elizário Ferreira

The Secretary of State for Cooperatives assists the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for the Environment

Demétrio do Amaral de Carvalho

The Secretary of State for the Environment assists the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for Communications

Merício Juvinal dos Reis “Akara”

The Secretary of State for Media assists the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Media in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for Land and Property

Eldino Rodrigues dos Santos

The Secretary of State for Land and Property assists the Minister of Justice in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for Youth and Sport

Abrão Saldanha

The Secretary of State for Youth and Sport assists the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for Art and Culture

Teófilo Caldas

The Secretary of State for Art and Culture assists the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for the Affairs of National Liberation Combatants

Júlio da Conceição “Loro Mesak”

The Secretary of State for The Affairs of National Liberation Fighters assists the Minister for The Affairs of National Liberation Combatants in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for Fisheries

Elídio de Araújo

The Secretary of State for Fisheries assists the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for Civil Protection

Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins

The Secretary of State for Civil Protection assists the Minister of the Interior in the performance of his duties.

Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion

Maria do Rosário Fátima Correia

The Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion assists the Prime Minister in the performance of his duties.