DILI, 20 february 2026 (TATOLI) – The Council of Ministers has approved the Government’s draft resolution establishing the Policy and Action Plan for the Promotion of a Resilient and Sustainable Blue Economy in Timor-Leste, reinforcing the sea as a central pillar of national development.
The resolution was presented by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão during a meeting held at the Meeting Hall of the Ministry of Finance in Dili, today.
“With the approval of this Resolution, the Government establishes the political vision and action strategy of the 9th Constitutional Government for this sector for the next ten years, under the direct coordination of the Prime Minister, with the support of the Land and Maritime Boundary Office and the respective Blue Economy Unit, ensuring coordination between ministries and relevant partners,” read a statement.
The policy is organised around key axes promoting marine research and literacy, protection of marine biodiversity, and the sustainable use of ocean resources, including fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and renewable energy.
It also aims to strengthen maritime transport and port development, enhance ocean governance, integrate climate change adaptation measures, and establish financing, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
“With this decision, the Executive reaffirms its commitment to the sea as one of the pillars of national development, with a view to promoting job creation, improving the living conditions of coastal populations, and protecting ecosystems, within a framework of sustainable and inclusive growth,” the statement added.
The plan sets a coordinated national framework for blue economy development over the next decade, aligning sectoral policies and partnerships to support sustainable economic growth while safeguarding marine ecosystems.
Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers also approved the Maritime Satellite Account presented by the Prime Minister.
The purpose of this Government Resolution is to implement Pillar 15 of the Blue Economy Policy and Action Plan, laying the foundations for the Sea Satellite Account as a statistical tool designed to accurately measure the sea economy’s contribution to the national economy.
The Sea Satellite Account will enable the collection, organisation, and analysis of data on public expenditure, and, at a later stage, on public and private economic activity associated with the maritime sector, integrating this information into the National Accounts. To this end, the Directorate-General for Budget Planning and the National Statistics Institute of Timor-Leste, IP, in coordination with the Land and Maritime Boundary Office, will define the methodology, relevant economic indicators, and the necessary data collection and processing mechanisms.
It is also planned that, within six months of the resolution coming into force, a report will be submitted to the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, providing an update on the work and a roadmap for establishing the Sea Satellite Account and consolidating the Sea Economy budget marker in the General State Budget from 2027 onwards.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
