DILI, 04 may 2023 (TATOLI)—The Government of Timor-Leste (TL), through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) and Representatives of the Transboundary Ocean Senior Advisor Asia-Pacific Program Division from Indonesia, are ready to manage plans for marine resources that benefit the interests of both countries economy.
General Director of MoAF, Acácio Guterres said the preparation of a peaceful national marine park management plan will be developed. Therefore, MoAF invited the municipal authorities, Bobonaro, Liquica, Dili, Atautro, Manatuto, and Lospalos Municipality as well as parties from Indonesia to share their views and insights.
“For now, we are still discussing and designing the program, and it will be brought back to Indonesia to be seen again. So that if everything has been completed will be implemented in the future. And the allocation of funds itself is already there, so it is ready to be implemented, especially in the northern part of TL,” said the General Director of MAP, Acácio Guterres, to journalists at Timor Plaza Dili, this Wednesday.
He added for budget costs have not been decided because all the plans are still being prepared.
“The negotiations will begin in 2023 after the establishment of the new government, and we will be presented it in a high-level meeting to focus the discussion on this issue to be implemented,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Representative from the Transboundary Ocean Senior Advisor Asia-Pacific Program Division, Ketut Putra said, the two countries work together to manage natural resources, especially the sea, which can benefit the economic interests of both countries.
“This program started with a prior planning process between the two countries. We from Indonesia are ready to facilitate so that the two countries can build each other up,” he said.
According to Putra, Indonesia can manage Marine Resources, therefore the two countries need an agreement to develop human resources for the management of the plan.
“We hope that the people who are the perpetrators will be the people who carry out management roles in the field. That is our hope,” he explained.
He gave an example of success in managing the sea, such as in Indonesia in the Raja Ampat area. Where local people are the ones who manage the marine resources. Thus, they understand and gain benefits in the long term.
Journalist: Mirandolina Barros Soares
Editor: Armandina Moniz / Nelia Borges
Translation: José Belarmino De Sá
