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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 25th 2025
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and authorised the Minister of Finance, Santina J. R. F. Cardoso, to negotiate, on behalf of the State, the specific conditions for the issuance of a State guarantee up to a maximum amount of US$ 80 million, within the scope of the project to develop a solar photovoltaic power plant in Laleia, in Manatuto municipality. This guarantee aims to ensure compliance with the obligations of Eletricidade de Timor-Leste (EDTL), as established in the Power Purchase Agreement signed with the project’s developer consortium.
The project will be implemented by a consortium comprising EDF Renouvelables International S.A.S. and I-Environment Investments Pacific Pty Ltd. The aim is to strengthen the country’s electricity production and distribution capacity, diversify energy sources, and encourage the use of sustainable technologies, highlighting the country’s solar energy potential. This initiative will contribute to the creation of a more secure, stable, and sustainable energy system, bringing direct benefits to the population and encouraging economic development. The official launch of the project took place on July 22nd, during the ceremony commemorating EDTL’s 5th anniversary.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Law Proposal on the General Regime of the Financial System and Banking Activity, presented by the Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso. This draft Law Proposal had already been discussed at the meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 4th, 2025, but due to the introduction of some amendments in the final drafting stage, it was necessary to submit it for further discussion.
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This was followed by a presentation by Milena Pires, Executive Director of the East Timor Trading Group, on the group’s investment plan for the construction of an industrial and commercial zone.
The project, called Discovery Business Industrial Zone (DBIZ), envisages the creation of an industrial, commercial and logistics centre, with private investment exceeding US$50 million, to be developed in three phases. The first phase includes the installation of a bottling and beverage production plant, warehouses and other support infrastructure.
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Based on the timeline presented by the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the Roadmap for the Installation of the Supreme Court of Justice.
The roadmap defines steps and activities necessary for the full installation of the Supreme Court, specifying the responsible entities for its implementation. Among the planned actions, are included necessary budget in the 2026 General State Budget, the establishment of a Commission for Recruitment and Selection, the process of selecting the Counsellor Judges, the appointment of the President of the Supreme Court and drafting of the diploma that will formalize its installation.
The planned actions have specific deadlines, with key activities to be completed, according to the schedule, by the end of the first half of 2026, to ensure that the Supreme Court of Justice begins operating in June next year.
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Lastly, the members of the Council of Ministers analysed the presentation of the Minister of Justice, Sérgio Hornai, on the main results and recommendations of the public consultation carried out in preparation for the National Action Plan against Human Trafficking 2026-2030, aimed at strengthening mechanisms for prevention, victim protection, criminal prosecution, and institutional partnerships. This plan aims to create a robust strategic framework to effectively tackle human trafficking, with concrete measures coordinated between various government entities and civil society partners. END