On Friday, October 28, the Ministry of Finance of Timor-Leste, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and AusAID have signed an agreement aimed at providing drinking water supply in the capital district of Manatuto and Oe-Cecusse (Pante Makasar).

“Today we have celebrate an agreement with the Asian Development Bank and AusAid, in the amount of $ 11 million U.S. dollars, which is intended to help the Ministry of Infrastructure, through the Department of Water and Sanitation, to enable water supply for the population in the districts of Manatuto and Oe-Cusse (Pante Makasar)”, said the Minister of Finance, Emília Pires.

“I hope that with this aid, the population of these districts can benefit from water in 2014. So I’m confident that if the projects go well, they will also be implemented in other districts. The implementation of the project is scheduled for 2012 and, in addition to those mentioned above, it also covers the areas of Debu, Lehumo and Eraulo, Ermera district”, said the minister.

The representative of the Asian Development Bank in Timor-Leste, Craig Sugden, said the funds provided by ADB for the supply of water in the district capitals are intended to contribute to the reduction of diseases related to water consumption, especially in children under 5 years, and also recover and extend the water supply system to ensure efficiency and safety in its consumption.

Present at this event were the Minister of Finance, Emília Pires, the Vice-Minister of Finance, Rui Manuel Hanjam, the representative of AusAid, Vincent Ashcroft, the representative of ADB in Timor-Leste, Craig Sugden and directors from the Ministry of Finance.