DILI, 21 july 2022 (TATOLI) – Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) Maria Odete do Ceo Guterres informed that the ASEAN Economic Community (MEA) Fact-Finding Mission is concerned with illegal fishing and export-import activities in Timor – Leste.
This concern was conveyed when the AEC delegation held a meeting with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery (MAF) to evaluate the progress achieved by MAF so far.
“Today, the delegation of the AEC held a meeting with MAF, at the meeting, we conveyed the essence of achieving progress related to agriculture, fisheries, and forestry to the delegation but the delegates were concerned about illegal fishing and export-import activities which are considered very low sectors in Timor – Leste,” Director General, MAF, Maria Odete Do Ceu Guterres told reporters in Timor – Plaza, Comoro, Dili, Thursday.
Responding to these concerns, MAF stated that, Timor – Leste has been working with Australia and other neighboring countries to tackle illegal fishing that normally happened in the Timor – Leste sea.
Meanwhile, the Government through MAF is also preparing regulations regarding imports and exports activity which will be approved by the Council of Ministers to be implemented in the near future.
AEC calls on Timor – Leste, to work together with MEA to optimize the agricultural potential for the import and export sector through joint raw materials to increase local products in Timor – Leste and be able to export regionally and internationally.
“Timor-Leste’s major products that have been exported abroad are coffee, coconut oil, vanilla, and other products. We hope that the Council of Ministers will soon approve the law on sanitation and the law on the protection of animals and plants to enable Timor-Leste to export other local products to the international, including ASEAN,” She concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor : Nelia B.
