DILI, 03 february 2023 (TATOLI) – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor – Leste (CCI- TL) requests the Government of Timor – Leste, to control the transactions at the border to impose taxes in contributing to the state‘s revenues.
Vice President of CCI-TL, Alberto Carvalho de Araujo, said the Tibar Bay Port is an icon of Timor-Leste’s development, thus, the Government must control the transactions at the border to control the movement of large vehicles that transport goods through cargo containers in Atapupu, Kupang Indonesia.
“We requested the Government through the Ministry of Finance to control the transaction of the buying and selling of goods at the border, especially for large vehicles to prevent containers of goods from the Atapupu port to enter Timor – Leste, and this will affect the income of the Tibar Bay Port in Timor – Leste, ” said the Vice President of CCI – TL, Alberto Carvalho Araujo, at the office of the Ministry of Finance, Aitak-Laran, Dili.
He added that, based on information obtained from the border, many container transport vehicles were transporting goods in Atapupu and then transferred to Timor-Leste: “CCI- TL requested the Government can control business activities at the border and prioritize all container cargo to be operated at the Tibar Bay Port to generate income in developing Timor – Leste, in the future.”
Responding to this request, the Minister of Finance Rui Gomes, said Government will continue to carry out surveillance through border immigration and the National Police of Timor – Leste (PNTL) at the border.
“We have banned containers from Indonesia from crossing the border, all container ships must go through the Tibar Bay Port, but we continue to carry out surveillance through border immigration and the National Police of Timor – Leste (PNTL) at the border,” said Rui Gomes.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
