Meeting of the Council of Ministers on April 30th 2025
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 April 30th 2025
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Proposal Resolution to the National Parliament to approve the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), known as the Samoa Agreement. This agreement, which replaced the previous Cotonou Agreement, was signed on November 15th, 2023, in Samoa.
The Samoa Agreement sets out the overall legal framework for bilateral relations between the European Union and the OACPS countries for the next twenty years. This new agreement establishes common principles and covers priority areas such as human rights, democracy, and good governance; peace and security; human and social development; sustainable and inclusive economic growth; environmental sustainability and climate change; migration and mobility. The agreement includes a common basis applicable to all parties, complemented by three specific regional protocols for Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, tailored to each region's particular needs and challenges.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Decree presented by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Filipus Nino Pereira. This decree establishes the procedures applicable to preferential rules of origin under free trade agreements and other trade agreements.
This Government Decree aims to promote and facilitate the export and import of goods and trade between Timor-Leste and its strategic trading partners and to prevent fraud regarding the origin of goods.
Therefore, this law defines the procedures for issuing certificates of origin and establishes the rules, guidelines, and assessment processes applicable to determining the origin of exported and imported goods that benefit from tariff preferences, considering the requirements arising from the agreements mentioned above.
Furthermore, this Government Decree defines, among other things, the responsibilities of the competent authorities in relation to the rules of origin, namely in the exercise of their functions of issuing, certifying, inspecting, verifying, and receiving proofs of origin, as well as the obligations of importers, producers, and certified exporters, in accordance with the agreements referred to.
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The Council of Ministers, following the draft presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, Marcos da Cruz, decided to authorise the expenditure of an additional US$2.65 million for the construction of the Galata irrigation project in the municipality of Baucau, bringing the total amount of the project to US$13.68 million.
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The draft Government Resolution for the third amendment to Government Resolution no. 7/2024, of January 24th, on the Establishment of the Executive Committee to establish a Special Economic Development Zone in Oe-Cússe Ambeno, was also approved.
With this amendment, the Executive Committee's term of office is extended by one month, allowing for the completion of ongoing work.
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Lastly, the Council of Ministers, following the proposal presented by the Vice-Minister of State Administration, Jacinto Rigoberto G. de Deus, decided to approve the theme “Hametin Paz no Dezenvolvimentu” (“Strengthening Peace and Development”) for the celebrations of May 20th, Independence Restoration Day. END
