Government launches One-Stop-Shop in the Municipality of Bobonaro
On March 12th, 2026, the Government officially launched the One-Stop-Shop at the Maliana Administrative Post in the Municipality of Bobonaro, in a ceremony chaired by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, with the participation of Minister of State Administration Tomás do Rosário Cabral and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Timor-Leste, Katyna Argueta. 
The launch of this One-Stop-Shop is part of the process of administrative modernisation and bringing public services closer to the public, enabling citizens to access a range of government services in a single location with greater speed, simplicity, and transparency. The new facility is particularly designed to reduce the time, costs, and travel requirements for people who live far from the capital.
Services such as issuing identity cards, passports, and criminal record certificates are now available at the Bobonaro One-Stop-Shop. The operation of this facility results from a collaboration between the Ministry of State Administration, various ministries, and public entities, notably the Ministry of Justice, which manages the document issuance system, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which provides the connectivity needed for the service to operate. The initiative also receives support from the UNDP, a partner in this process since 2023.
During the ceremony, the Prime Minister urged the public to make good use of the new infrastructure and to strictly fulfil their responsibilities as public servants, asking the people of Bobonaro to “make good use of [this service], avoid falsifying data and documents,” and to “work with responsibility and integrity.”
In his remarks, the Minister of State Administration pointed out that the One-Stop-Shop had already been established in Manatuto, Baucau, Dili, Ataúro, Liquiçá, Aileu, Manufahi, Covalima, and Oe-Cússe, and has now been inaugurated in Bobonaro. He also mentioned that the one-stop shops in Ermera and Lautém are planned to open next week, and that those in Viqueque and Ainaro are currently under construction.
Minister Tomás Cabral also explained that the One-Stop-Shop operates as an integrated system for delivering public services, in coordination with the relevant ministries, and highlighted its usefulness in making it easier for citizens to access public administration services. “The One-Stop-Shop can facilitate and bring governance even closer to the people. This becomes a hub for the central government, with all the information available here,” he stated.
UNDP Resident Representative Katyna Argueta stressed that the new structure enhances the delivery of public services to citizens and marks a tangible step towards a more efficient, transparent, and people-focused public administration. She also noted that the initiative’s success will rely on an ongoing commitment to quality services, accountability, and responsiveness to the population's needs.
The President of the Bobonaro Municipal Authority, Paulo Moniz Maia, expressed gratitude to the Government and the UNDP for their support in realising this infrastructure. He noted that, from now on, residents of the municipality will be able to process documents locally.
With the opening of the Bobonaro One-Stop-Shop, the Government continues to gradually expand this integrated service model across the country, as part of its policy to decentralise administrative functions and enhance the delivery of local public services.
