Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 11th 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 June 11th 2025
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law for the second amendment to Decree-Law No. 11/2006, of April 12th, which creates the Institute for Equipment Management and Support for Infrastructure Development and approves the respective statutes.
With this change, IGEADI's scope of action has been broadened, allowing it to promote specialized and certified technical training for its own human resources, for professionals from other institutions and for citizens in general. The training will focus on the handling, management and maintenance of high-risk machinery and equipment used in construction and public works. To this end, the Institute may establish partnerships with public or private entities, national or foreign, with proven experience in these areas.
The bylaws of the IGEADI have also been updated to ensure that they comply with the rules in force regarding the State's direct and indirect administration.
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Also approved was the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister for Public Works, Samuel Marçal, which aims to establish rules for the use of high-risk machinery and equipment.
The law defines a compulsory licensing system for operators of machinery such as cranes, excavators, forklifts, backhoe loaders, lifting platforms and other heavy equipment used in construction and public works. The aim is to reinforce the safety of workers and communities in order to prevent accidents and ensure that only properly trained and certified professionals operate this type of equipment.
The main measures include the creation of specific training courses with theoretical and practical components, organized by the Institute for Equipment Management and Support for Infrastructure Development (IGEADI), which will also be responsible for issuing professional licenses. The law also establishes the minimum technical safety standards for using the equipment, rules for movement on public roads and in work zones, and the procedures for monitoring and imposing fines in the event of infringements.
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The draft Decree-Law presented by the Minister for Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, for the second amendment to Decree-Law no. 13/2016 of May 18th, which regulates the Infrastructure Fund, was also approved.
The main aim of this legislative initiative is to strengthen good governance, transparency and accountability in the management of the Infrastructure Fund, ensuring that the Head of Government is more involved in decisions on the financing of projects of great importance to national development. Based on the recent reconfiguration of competencies introduced by the new Procurement and Public Contracts Code, the law clarifies the role of the Prime Minister in the deliberations of the Fund's Board of Directors, particularly in projects with a value of more than five million dollars.
The law amends articles 9, 10 and 11 of the current regulation, to strengthen the composition and functioning of the Board of Directors, and also introduces a new paragraph to article 4, clarifying the public objectives of the Fund by making it clear that it can also finance goods necessary for the operation of supported infrastructure. With these changes, the government aims to ensure a more effective link between the strategic objectives of public investment and the rigorous management of the state's financial resources.
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In accordance with the project presented by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, in his capacity as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Acting Minister for Tourism and the Environment, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the presentation of Timor-Leste's candidacy to host the 9TH International Congress of Environmental Education of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Communities (CPLP) - EALUSÓFONA 2027, which is proposed to be held in the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno, between July 19 and 23, 2027.
This Congress is a privileged multilateral platform for sharing experiences, promoting international cooperation and developing common environmental education strategies. Holding this event in Timor-Leste will strengthen environmental awareness in the country, encourage the sharing of good practices and consolidate Timor-Leste's active role in promoting ecological sustainability within the CPLP, in a context where the world is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis.
The Council of Ministers also decided to instruct the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to coordinate, in conjunction with the relevant ministries and national and international partners, all the actions necessary to prepare, organize and hold the Congress, including the formal application process. It was also authorized to submit a request for co-financing of 150,000 US dollars to the CPLP Special Fund, as part of an estimated total budget of 500,000 dollars, prepared in partnership with the Center for Environmental Education and Information (CEIA), the Portuguese Association for Environmental Education (ASPEA) and the Lusophone Network for Environmental Education (REDELUSO).
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Lastly, the draft Government Resolution for the fourth amendment to Government Resolution no. 7/2024 of January 24 on the Creation of the Executive Committee with a view to establishing a Special Economic Development Zone in Oe-Cusse Ambeno (ZEEDOA Portuguese acronyms) was approved.
With this amendment, the mandate of the Executive Committee is extended for a period of four months. During this period, all hiring of new officials, technicians and advisors, both for the administrative bodies of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA) and for the ZEEDOA Executive Committee, will be prevented. The Presidency of the Council of Ministers should prepare the technical and legal documents needed to create a new functional structure in the RAEOA, similar to the municipal system adopted in the country's other administrative districts, in which the atonis can assume responsibility for the administrative and economic management of the Region. END
