Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 26th, 2025
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 26th, 2025
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Bill presented by the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay on the Competition Law.
The aim of this legislative intervention is to establish an appropriate legal framework to regulate competition practices in Timor-Leste. The Competition Law aims to create a competitive business environment, promote market efficiency, prevent monopolistic and anti-competitive practices, and guarantee consumer protection, bringing the country into line with the international standards set by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Council of Ministers decided to authorize the Minister of Finance to sign on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste, a Financial Contribution Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the European Union relating to the Multi-Year Action Plan for Timor-Leste for 2021-2027, in the amount of 12 million euros (around 12.6 million US dollars).
Following the project presented by the Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, the Council of Ministers also decided to authorize the complete proposals in the areas of trade in services and movement of natural persons, to be submitted as Timor-Leste's initial proposals to the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Member States.
These proposals are part of the negotiation process for East Timor's accession to the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) and the ASEAN Movement of Natural Persons Agreement (MNP), as part of the negotiations for Timor-Leste's full membership of ASEAN.
The draft Government Resolution, presented by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Civil Service Commission, which sets the vacancies for the promotion by seniority of staff in the careers of the General Regime of the total of 3,540 vacancies for promotion established by this Government Resolution, 60 are for the category of Senior Technician - Grade A, 223 for Senior Technician - Grade B, 561 for Professional Technician - Grade C, 965 for Professional Technician - Grade D, 1051 for Administrative Technician - Grade E and 680 for Assistant - Grade F.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste, Helder Lopes, presented to the Council of Ministers a report on the operational management of the Petroleum Fund.
The presentation covered the Petroleum Fund's performance in 2024, including the fund's balance sheet, the income earned and the investment strategy. The portfolio allocation, investment returns, withdrawals made, and the overall impact of the fund's management were also analyzed.
The Petroleum Fund's investment strategy is defined by clear objectives established in national legislation, ensuring that revenues from petroleum exploration are applied in a way that guarantees sustainable benefits for current and future generations.
The Council of Ministers also approved a draft Government Resolution to award a donation of 60,000 US dollars to the Permanent Representation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic in Timor-Leste, presented by the Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel.
This measure reinforces the historical ties that unite Timor-Leste and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, based on the common desire to fight for self-determination, the principle of solidarity with the struggle of peoples for national liberation and the right to self-determination and independence, which are present in the Constitution of the Republic, in the Resolution of the National Parliament of solidarity and support for the Saharawi people, and in the fact that Timor-Leste has contributed, since 2011, to the functioning of that Permanent Representation in Dili, through the granting of an annual subsidy for the exercise of its activities in Timor-Leste and in the region.
The Council of Ministers also approved the draft Government Resolution, also presented by Vice-Minister Milena da Costa Rangel, to approve Timor-Leste's voluntary contribution of 155,810 US dollars to the Special Fund of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), to finance the project “Lusofonia in Timor-Leste”.
This project, developed within the framework of the CPLP, aims to promote and disseminate the Portuguese language in Timor-Leste and is being implemented by the Timorese online daily newspaper DiliGente, the only national media outlet exclusively in Portuguese.
The draft Government Resolution, presented by the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes, which determines the dismissal of the current Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rádio e Televisão de Timor-Leste, EP (RTTL, EP) and the appointment of Elizeu Isaac Fernandes to take up the post for a four-year term was also approved.
The appointment is based on the new Chairman's recognized technical and management skills, as well as his professional experience, seniority, suitability and impartiality.
Finally, according to the draft presented by the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, the Council of Ministers decided to authorize expenditure of 15 million US dollars for an annual grant to the Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET), to be implemented during 2025.
This annual grant to the Timorese Episcopal Conference is made under the agreement signed on August 14th 2015 between Timor-Leste and the Holy See, as well as the Framework Agreement signed on June 16th 2017 between the Government and the CET, which provide for an annual contribution, according to the Government's financial availability, to the social, educational and ecclesial Governance activities of the Catholic Church. END
