DILI, 13 january 2023 (TATOLI) – The National Directorate of Land Transportation (DNTT) of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) registered 17,141 vehicles imported to Timor-Leste between january and december 2022.
The head of the DNTT’s Vehicle Registration Department, Amândio do Rosario, said that a total of 56,542 vehicles had been imported into the country since 2001.
“More than US$178,000 was collected through the registration of imported vehicles in 2022,” Rosario told TATOLI at his office in Dili.
He said all vehicles imported in 2022 had contributed over $3.2 million to the state coffers.
In october 2021, Timor-Leste Customs Authority requested MoTC to review Law No. 30/2011 on the vehicle import procedure.
The Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agostinho da Silva has agreed with the Customs Authority to review the law in the future to collect more revenue.
The Commissioner of the Timor-Leste Customs Authority, José Abílio, said that the revision of the law is necessary since it is no longer adequate to the current situation.
“Therefore, the Ministry of Transport and Communications will review the law and need the suggestion and recommendation of the Customs Authority,” he said.
Abilio said the law continues to allow the importation of vehicles older than 10 years into the country.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
