On August 28th, 2026, the Government, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, launched construction of the new Lautém Municipal Market in Lospalos at a ceremony chaired by Mariano Assanami Sabino, the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, with the participation of Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Arsénio Pereira da Silva, Secretary of State for Cooperatives.
The new market will be built in Lospalos, in the suco of Fuiloro, under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with an investment of approximately US$7.2 million and an estimated two-year timeframe for execution.
Under the slogan “New Market, New Opportunities for Local Economic Development”, the project aims to create better conditions for merchants, producers, and consumers and to support the revitalisation of economic activity across the municipality.
At the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Vice Prime Minister Mariano Assanami Sabino emphasised that the new market will provide merchants with a space that offers improved cleanliness, hygiene, and safety for buying and selling products.
The Vice Prime Minister also highlighted commerce’s contribution to economic development, employment, income generation, and poverty reduction. In this context, he called for cooperation from local and community authorities, merchants, and the public during the execution of the works to ensure project quality and adherence to the scheduled timeline.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Nino Pereira, stated that the start of construction of the new Lautém Municipal Market aligns with the 9th Constitutional Government’s policy of promoting local economic development through the provision of adequate infrastructure. The new market aims to dignify and improve conditions for producers and sellers, enabling them to market their products in a safe and healthy environment, while also providing enhanced conditions and greater comfort for shoppers.
The President of the Lautém Municipal Authority, Mélio de Jesus, thanked the Government for its investment and urged the company executing the project to ensure construction quality and to comply with the established terms and deadlines.
According to the President of the Municipal Authority, the new market is expected to offer better conditions for farmers, fishermen, and traders to sell their products, thereby contributing to local economic activity and household income.
The ceremony was also attended by members of the National Parliament, representatives of local and community authorities, veterans, Church representatives, businesspeople, students, teachers, members of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), and local community members.