Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 21st, 2026
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 21st, 2026
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and decided to approve the National Roadmap for the Implementation of ASEAN Economic Commitments 2026–2030, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel.
This Roadmap establishes the national framework for guidance and coordination to ensure the phased fulfilment of Timor-Leste's economic commitments within the ASEAN framework from 2026 to 2030, setting out priorities, actions, and institutional responsibilities. The Roadmap is accompanied by 19 Sectoral Strategic Action Plans for 2026–2030 and 19 Sectoral Work Plans for 2026–2027, which translate these commitments into sectoral priorities, reforms, and concrete actions.
The resolution stipulates that the ministries, institutions and other public bodies involved must ensure the implementation of the actions set out within their respective areas of responsibility, whilst the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, under the coordination of the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, is responsible for overall coordination, monitoring and consolidation of progress in implementing the Roadmap.
The responsible bodies must provide regular reports on the implementation status of the measures, including progress made, constraints identified and proposed measures to address them. The Roadmap will also be subject to periodic monitoring and review, considering developments in Timor-Leste’s commitments within ASEAN, the decisions of its competent bodies and national priorities.
With this decision, the Government aims to ensure a coordinated and coherent national approach to fulfilling the economic commitments undertaken within the framework of ASEAN and to deepen Timor-Leste’s participation in the ASEAN Economic Community.
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The Council of Ministers approved four draft Law Proposals, presented by the Minister for State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, to amend electoral legislation and the electoral register, update and harmonise electoral procedures, modernise the voter registration system, and facilitate the exercise of the right to vote.
The approved proposals cover the second amendment to Law No. 22/2021 of November 4th, the Municipal Electoral Law; the second amendment to Law No. 6/2016 of May 25th, the Electoral Register Law; the sixth amendment to Law No. 6/2006 of December 28th, the Electoral Law for the National Parliament; and the seventh amendment to Law No. 7/2006 of December 28th, the Electoral Law for the Presidency of the Republic.
The main measures proposed include improving access to the electoral process for people with disabilities, notably by introducing Braille ballot papers, supporting voters with mobility difficulties, and providing assisted voting, where provided for by law. The law also extends voting hours abroad for elections to the President of the Republic and the National Parliament until 8.00 pm, to facilitate the participation of Timorese citizens living in the diaspora.
In the context of voter registration, the amendments aim to consolidate the digitisation of the system by establishing the use of electronic forms, recording biometric data, including the voter’s fingerprint and photograph, and introducing new security features on voter cards, namely a QR code. Provision is also made for the establishment of electoral registration committees in countries where Timor-Leste has no diplomatic representation, comprising two Timorese citizens of proven integrity residing in the respective country.
The proposals also include updating the requirements for submitting candidacies, adjusting the number of certain electoral officials to match the number of registered voters at polling centres and polling stations, and other amendments to improve the organisation of electoral processes. In municipal elections, candidacies for President and Vice-President submitted by groups of citizens must continue to have the support of at least 5 per cent of registered voters in the respective municipality. They must now include at least 50 proposers from each sub-unit comprising that municipality.
These amendments aim to modernise and harmonise the electoral framework, make voting and voter registration more accessible, and align the legislation with technological developments and the experience gained from conducting electoral processes in Timor-Leste.
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Following proposals from the Minister for State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the theme “51 Years of History – Consolidating Stability and Promoting Sustainable Development” for the celebrations marking the 51st anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste's Unilateral Proclamation of Independence.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Health, Élia A. A. dos Reis Amaral, on the scheme for the extraordinary promotion of staff in the public administration’s healthcare professions for 2026.
This legislation builds on the 2025 extraordinary promotion scheme and establishes 1,874 posts to promote healthcare professionals who were not promoted last year. The scheme covers doctors, nurses, midwives and diagnostic, therapeutic and public health technicians. The promotions will take effect from July 1st, 2026.
With this measure, the government aims to enhance recognition and motivation among healthcare professionals, promote career progression, and strengthen the National Health Service.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft Law Proposal for the first amendment to Law No. 15/2017 of August 23rd, the Private Investment Law, to strengthen the conditions for attracting large-scale investment and reinvestment projects of strategic interest to Timor-Leste's development.
The proposal retains the general scheme for granting tax benefits and customs incentives and introduces a specific scheme for investment or reinvestment projects deemed to be of major national interest, within the framework of the Strategic Development Plan. For these projects, benefits may be granted for 25 years, renewable for an equal period, subject to recognition by Government Resolution, considering the scale or nature of the investment and its economic, social, environmental, or technological impact.
The legislation also clarifies and expands the framework for special investment agreements, setting out in greater detail the conditions for their conclusion and investors' commitments, particularly regarding the creation of jobs for Timorese workers and their vocational training, the procurement of goods and services from local suppliers, environmental protection, and support for local communities.
Guarantees of legal and fiscal stability are also established in relation to the benefits granted, without prejudice to the application of rules in the public interest. Mechanisms for monitoring and supervising projects are strengthened, as are the consequences in the event of non-compliance, including the possibility of terminating the agreement and forfeiting the benefits granted.
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Following the draft presented by the Minister for Public Works, Samuel Marçal, the Council of Ministers resolved to approve a temporary adjustment to the reference unit prices for petroleum products and cement used in the execution of public works, taking into account the rise in the costs of these materials on national and international markets, linked to armed conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.
The decision stipulates that the National Development Agency (ADN, IP) shall update the reference prices to US$1.65 per litre of fuel, US$5 per bag of cement, and US$1.25 per kilogramme of bituminous material.
The measure aims to align the costs of public works with market realities, prevent projects from being put on hold, and ensure the continuity and quality of public infrastructure construction. The ADN is also responsible for regularly monitoring price trends and making the necessary adjustments to protect the interests of the State and the public corporations involved.
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Lastly, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Filipus Nino Pereira, presented to the Council of Ministers the memorandum of understanding to be signed between the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Timor-Leste and the Ministry of Intellectual Property of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), with a view to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of intellectual property.
The Memorandum establishes a framework for cooperation to strengthen Timor-Leste’s institutional capacities in this area by sharing knowledge and experience, training technical staff, and exchanging specialist personnel. It also provides for cooperation in developing policies and legislation, protecting intellectual property rights, and promoting their economic use, including the commercialisation of products and innovations. END
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