Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 4th, 2026
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 March 4th, 2026
The Council of Ministers met at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium of the Ministry of Finance in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, which aims to make the second amendment to the Organic Law of the 9th Constitutional Government.
The aim of this amendment is to include the position of Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who will not only replace the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in his absence or when he is prevented from acting, but will also assist in the exercise of his political, administrative, and financial functions as the person responsible for implementing the country's foreign policy, ensuring its unity and consistency.
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The Council of Ministers approved the government's draft resolution, presented by the Minister of Finance, which provides for the opening of a trust account between the Ministry of Finance and EDTL, E.P., at the Central Bank of Timor-Leste, to ensure the implementation of the State Guarantee associated with the development of the TIM Solar Power Plant Project.
The measure stems from the Power Purchase Agreement signed by EDTL with the international consortium responsible for developing the project and aims to ensure that, should the state guarantee be triggered, there are clear and immediate mechanisms in place to make the expected payments, thereby ensuring both transparency and traceability of financial transactions.
Under the terms of the Government Resolution now approved, the Ministry of Finance will open a trust account of up to US$18 million, which will be used exclusively to cover payments under the State Guarantee for the Tim Solar Panel Project. This amount will be deducted from the total of US$121.9 million already authorised for transfers from the General State Budget to EDTL under the “802 Electricity” programme, aimed at ensuring the continuity of the public electricity supply service.
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The draft Government Decree presented by the Minister of Trade and Industry was also approved, regulating the procedures for granting licences and conducting inspections in the context of sectoral licensing of commercial activities, and approving the relevant forms and templates.
This draft Government Decree aims to implement the sectoral licensing regime for commercial activities set out in Decree-Law No. 89/2023 of December 20th, as amended by Decree-Law No. 5/2026 of February 4th, defining the administrative procedures required for granting licences to commercial establishments classified as medium or high risk.
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The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers gave a preliminary presentation of the proposal for a cybersecurity legislative framework.
This initiative provides for the development of a legislative framework to strengthen the national legal and institutional framework in this area, including the definition of a National Cybersecurity Strategy and the approval of legal regimes for cyberspace security, digital services, cybercrime, and the protection of whistleblowers.
The proposed legislative framework aims to enhance the security of networks and information systems, protect critical infrastructure and essential services, combat crime in the digital environment, and promote the safe and responsible use of cyberspace by citizens, businesses, and public institutions. The measures under consideration also include establishing institutional mechanisms for strategic coordination and operational responses to cybersecurity incidents, as well as instruments for national and international cooperation in this area.
This initiative aims to strengthen the State's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to threats in the digital domain, thereby protecting national interests, ensuring the secure functioning of public administration, and building citizens' trust in the digital environment.
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The Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment presented to the Council of Ministers the 2011-2030 Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan Progress Monitoring Report, which assesses the degree of implementation of the goals set for the end of 2024.
The report analyses the progress of 199 short- and medium-term goals, distributed across five major sectors (Social Capital, Infrastructure, Economic Development, Institutional Framework, and Macroeconomic Outlook), and identifies advances achieved, persistent structural challenges, and priorities for action for the period up to 2030, with a view to supporting decision-making and strengthening the effectiveness of the Plan's implementation.
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The Council of Ministers also reviewed the presentation of the Report of the Commission serving in the Oe-Cússe Ambeno Special Administrative Region (RAEOA).
The mission, conducted between February 22nd and 26th, February 2026, aimed to assess the legal framework and institutional functioning of the RAEOA, and to clarify procedures for administrative, financial, and human resources management in the Region. The team included representatives from the Government and various State institutions, including members of the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Finance, the Civil Service Commission, and relevant technical services.
During the presentation, the legislation applicable to RAEOA was analysed, as were the rules relating to the execution of the General State Budget and the Procurement and Public Contracts Code. The Commission also presented information on the institutional organisation of the Region, planning, budgeting, and budget execution procedures, as well as the rules applicable to recruitment and personnel management.
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Lastly, the Council of Ministers reviewed a presentation by the Secretary of State for Equality on Timor-Leste's participation in the annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which will take place from March 9th to 19th, 2026 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
During the presentation, the Secretary of State highlighted the role of this commission as the United Nations' main intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, bringing together Member States and international partners annually to assess progress and set policy guidelines in this area.
The Secretary of State, who will represent Timor-Leste at the event, also announced that she will co-organise a side event in partnership with UN Women and several countries to share experiences and strengthen gender equality policies, including efforts to prevent gender-based violence, empower women economically, and promote their participation in political life. This participation will also allow the presentation of national developments in this area and strengthen international cooperation in this field. END
