2017 Timor-Leste State Budget approved unanimously

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, December 9th, 2016

2017 General State Budget Approved Unanimously in Final Vote

On the 9^th of December National Parliament voted unanimously to give final approval to the 2017 General State Budget with 60 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions. The approved Budget has an estimated total expenditure of $1,386.8 million, with the main categories of expenses as Salaries and Wages $209.7 million, Goods and Services $395 million, Public Transfers $421 million, Minor Capital $12.1 million and Capital Development [including the Infrastructure Fund and loans] $349 million.

Speaking after the final vote Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, thanked all members of National Parliament for “the democratic and constructive way in which the 2017 General State Budget was debated” and noted that for the Government the unanimous vote “represents a vote of confidence which the Sixth Constitutional Government, until the last day of its work, will want to honor, working with even more commitment to the People and the Nation."

During its passage through National Parliament the Budget was considered in generality and approved unanimously on the 25^th of November. After presenting questions and debating issues, Members tabled approximately 80 proposed amendments that were considered by the ‘Eventual Commission for the Collection and Analysis of Proposals for Amendments to the Draft Law’. The Prime Minister observed that National Parliament’s decision to set up the Commission lead to “frank and democratic” discussion and the accommodation of many proposed amendments “without compromising the tax ceiling initially established and without distorting the Government’s commitments regarding the implementation of projects, programs and activities proposed for 2017.”

Prior to the final unanimous vote on the 9^th of December, the Budget was discussed in the Plenary and voted on in detail, with analysis of each article of the proposed draft law. The 2017 General State Budget Law will now be presented to the President of the Republic, H.E. Taur Matan Ruak, for promulgation.

Closing the National Parliament’s final session concerning the 2017 General State Budget, the Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s “commitment to carry out the program of its mandate” with its focus on measures “to make the non-oil economy more dynamic and to increase the sustainability of national development.” ENDS