DILI, 31 marsu 2021 (TATOLI)– The Minister of th Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães officially met with the U.S Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Charles Kevin Blackstone to express the support in the strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the two States in the Timor-Leste development sphere.
During the meeting, both parts discussed several issues related to the bilateral cooperation such as the national priority in the epidemiological situation caused by COVID-19.
“The cooperation ties between the two countries are fundamental to share the common value and The United State continue to strengthen the relation and the working conjunction with the Government of Timor-Leste’s for the development of democratic institutions,” Statement from the document accessed by Tatoli.
This is the first meeting after the Ambassador presents the credential to the President of Republic, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo on march 19.
Both countries also discuss the Millennium Challenge Corporation program (MCC), led by the Minister of Presidency for the Council of Minister, Fidelis Magalhães since 2018, which has been signed the financial agreement and create a team responsible to identify the economy sector to develop during the implementation of the program.
The MCC program cost around $285 million to be implemented for five year, focus on education, water and sanitation.
Currently the program is under the separative study and survey data, necessary to define in order to realize the implementation agreement that will be signed within this year (2021).
In addition, during the meeting there were also discussions about a new cooperation program with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), that provides $93 million for the five years coming.
The program is being prepared with the Government basic priority and focus on economic diversification.
They also discussed the road to rehabilitation of Baucau airport, The US reaffirms that there was no any intervention and interest in the future.
With that, the Timor-Leste government has the desire to move forward with a project that is still being discussed more detail between the Vice Prime Minister and the Minister of planning and ordination, José Maria dos Reis and the US Ambassador.
Journalist: Florêncio Miranda Ximenes
Editor: Julia Chatarina
