The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 

Díli, February 8, 2012

Timor-Leste strengthens borders for better management and increased trade

The inauguration of the Batugade Integrated Border Post has marked another step in the development of best practice border management in Timor-Leste. Recognizing the growing importance of the Dili–Kupang corridor as a key trade route, the Government prioritized this development as an important investment to facilitate trade and jointly improve regional security with Indonesia.

The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and a number of Ministers, Vice Ministers and Secretaries of State attended the inauguration along with a considerable group of Law Enforcement and Military personnel from Indonesia. The Government also inaugurated a Traditional Market at the post which features Timorese produce and cultural items.

Border management is a multidimensional task involving Customs operating under the Ministry of Finance, Immigration operating under the Secretary of State for Security and a number of other key agencies including the Border Patrol Unit of the National Police (PNTL), Quarantine, Health, Tourism, Transport and Foreign Affairs. The use of technology and enhanced systems in the Border Post is enabling improved coordination and information sharing amongst these partners.

Modernizing systems in Customs have contributed to large increases in revenue collection across 2011 with collections at Batugade 30% higher than in 2010 and the overall customs revenue up 66% from 2010 figures.

In the new border post Immigration and Customs officers will have online real time access to the Dili based mainframes allowing both people and cargo to be processed with more speed and certainty. Other technologies that are installed or in process are Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), machines for X-Ray, Explosive and Narcotics Detection and Metal Detection.

Support and training is being stepped up to equip the human resources of the border agencies.

The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers noted “Secure and efficient borders are essential for Timor-Leste and our regional neighbors. We thank our Indonesian colleagues for their cooperation and also the Asian Development Bank for their assistance with training. We particularly thank the members of the Timorese Civil Service who are rising to the challenge of managing new technologies and improved service delivery. Although the building and coordinating of our border management is an ongoing journey the accelerated capacity development we see amongst our Civil Servants is a great encouragement and gives us confidence for the future.”