Australia and TL discuss development priorities for the future
DILI, 05 august 2022 (TATOLI) – The Governments of Timor-Leste and the Government of Australia held a bilateral dialogue to reflect on the longstanding development cooperation of the two countries and shared priorities for the future.
“Australia and Timor-Leste’s development cooperation is broad and deep. It is an important part of our bilateral relationship,” said Minister for Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes.
Gomes said Australia and Timor-Leste had been working together across multiple areas and ministries, from grassroots community development to policy reform: “During COVID-19, our longstanding partnership allowed us to work together to deliver Timor-Leste’s COVID 19 response, delivering more than one million Australian-funded vaccines.”
Australia’s Ambassador to Timor-Lest, Bill Costello said during the bilateral dialogue, both parties discussed the breadth of assistance given by the Australian government, as well as emerging challenges and opportunities.
“This included how to deliver quality and affordable services for Timorese people, as well as Australia’s program alignment with the government’s Grand Options framework priorities,” said Costello.
He said in the Australian financial year 2022-23, the budget for Australia’s development assistance to Timor-Leste will be AUD105.7 million (approximately USD73 million).
“The strength of our relationship has also assisted us to work together in new areas, including new Australian support for transformational infrastructures such as the rehabilitation of the President Nicolau Lobato airport (alongside Japan, the Asian Development Bank, and the International Finance Cooperation) and the Timor-Leste South Submarine Cable. These projects will deliver real economic benefits for Timor-Leste,” said Ambassador Costello.
Costello stressed that Australia was proud of its joint work on Government priorities such as the new government payment for pregnant mothers and young children Bolsa da Mae Jerasaun Foun, which will improve the quality of life and strengthen nutrition outcomes for pregnant women and children.
At the global economic level, Australia was delighted to be one of the first countries to sign a bilateral protocol with Timor-Leste as part of Timor-Leste’s application to join the World Trade Organization.
Ambassador Costello and Minister Gomes used the opportunity to sign the subsidiary arrangement for PROSIVU. PROSIVU is Australia’s flagship AUD60 million (approximately USD40 million) governance program with Timor-Leste, focused on providing expertise to the Timor-Leste Government on public financial management, economic development, and civil service reforms. It follows from longstanding cooperation through Australia’s Governance for Development program.
“The Parseria Ba Prosperidade Inklusivu Program, PROSIVU, brings new hope, motivation, and commitment from our Development Partner to improve the performance of our public services that ultimately will have a profound impact on people’s lives,” said Minister Gomes. “From the Ministry of Finance, we are ready to welcome the support to strengthen the Public Financial Management Reform, especially to work closely with the Directorates that engage in Planning and Budgeting, Tax and Customs areas in order for the Ministry to perform its function as mandated. We also expect the program to continue to support our Economic Recovery Plan of 2020,” Minister Gomes concluded.
Beyond PROSVIU, Australia and Timor-Leste are also pleased to be entering new phases of Nabilan (Ending Violence Against Women and Children), TOMAK (Agriculture), and the Australian Awards program.
Ambassador Costello concluded that in the coming years: “Australia and Timor-Leste will work closely to ensure our development priorities continue to remain aligned and that our cooperation is focused on delivering the strongest possible development outcomes for the Timorese people.”
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
