DILI, 12 april 2023 (TATOLI) – The Council of Ministers has approved today the National Territorial Plan (PNOT-TL), presented by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Territory, José Maria dos Reis.
The PNOT-TL is the first national territorial planning to be carried out with an adequate legal and institutional framework, aimed at promoting a sustainable and inclusive national development model.
The Plan applies to the whole territory of Timor-Leste, including the Oe-Cusse Ambeno region and the islands of Ataúro and Jaco, with an area of 14,919 km² and is governed by the principles of participation, subsidiarity, prevention, precaution, equity or social solidarity and environmental and social efficiency.
The PNOT-TL is a territorial development instrument that establishes the main options for the use of the territory, in order to promote the integrated, harmonious, and sustainable development of the country, guarantee territorial cohesion, and reduce territorial asymmetries. The intention is to strengthen the territory as an integrating factor of sectoral policies and to guide territorial policies at lower scales.
The National Territorial Plan will become the key instrument for the sustainable establishment of the foundations for the social, territorial, and economic development of Timor-Leste, promoting the integration of sectors such as health, education, communications, transports, energy, and the national economic base, improving the urban and rural development systems, at the national, municipal and local level, and also taking the environmental dimension into due consideration.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
