APORTIL commits to working on the weakened to reduce delaying import goods in the seaport

DILI, 06 april, 2022 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste Customs Authority (APORTIL) committed to working in the weekend and holiday season to ensure the delay of imported material in the seaport in Dili.

The president of APORTIL, Lamartino de Oliveira said APORTIL is an autonomous Government Institution responsible for managing the Sea Port in Dili.

“The instruction is clear to all operators and agencies to remove the containers in the seaport. It does not impact if the tax rate is increasing,” The president APORTIL Lamartino de Oliveira told the TATOLI Agency at his office, Colmera, this wednesday.

He recognized that the delay of load in the seaport was due to the lack of communication between suppliers and the Agency.

“The service activity is in good progress and everything is going well. The government has hired three security agencies to ensure the security in the seaport, especially at the time the agency uploading the goods,” He stressed.

President of APORTIL, Lamartino said this statement to respond to an inquiry from Minister of Coordinator of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral about the increasing price of basic needs in the market.

The delay of containers in the port of Dili causes an increase in the price of imported products in national markets.

“The Port Authority of Timor-Leste (APORTIL) must increase the effectiveness of services so that the containers do not linger at the port,” the Minister for the Coordinator of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral, told journalists at Timor Plaza.

The President of the Câmara Commerce Industry of Timor-Leste (CCI-TL), Óscar Lima, required the Government to ensure APORTIL continues working for seven days. It includes Saturday, Sunday, and even during the holiday time season.

Mr. Óscar Lima expects the seaport should be open all week from Monday to Sunday, as the delay of containers at the port also affects the price of the products, as the payment price of containers increases.

APORTIL is working based on the Government Decree Law 30 of march 2020. APORTIL is not intended to delay uploading goods belonging to employers. The entrepreneurs should pay the tax to the government.

Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá

Editor: Rafy Belo