LIQUIÇA, 11 September 2023 (TATOLI)— President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, asked the relevant ministries to tighten cross-border security due to the increasing number of imported goods being transported across the border.
“The government must monitor mass transactions at the Motain border because the Motain border has a negative impact on our domestic trade,” Horta told the media at Tibar Port, Monday.
He urged the Government to make supervisory regulations that could impact large investments such as the Tibar port.
According to the Head of State, imported goods at Tibar Port are subject to tax according to government regulations, while imported goods from Atapupu-Indonesia Port along the Motain border are only subject to low rates, thus having a big impact on the country’s economy.
“We understand that traders and importers are looking for maximum profits. However, imported goods from Surabaya that arrive in Atapupu cross the border with no control regulations and there is no payment of container fees. Therefore our country is losing money from an economic perspective,” explained Horta.
Apart from that, the Government has prepared a large budget to repair the road from Motain to Dili, however, car transport that passes through Motain has caused many roads to be damaged.
“They took cars from the border and destroyed all the roads. And they don’t pay taxes and harm state profits. The government should look at this as a serious issue because imported goods from Surabaya to Timor-Leste generate large profits” Horta said.
Responding to these complaints, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Miguel Manetelu, said that market monitoring at the border was in process, but the Government had not yet established any rules and would continue to apply existing rules.
“We will implement several Ministry regulations ahead, to resolve the issue concern,” He said.
The government ensures that the regulations will be implemented next October by equalizing import tax costs at the Montana border and Tibar Port.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
