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Timor-Leste signs largest support deal in history with the US next week

The Timorese government signs next week the largest support agreement in history with the United States, worth 420 million dollars (420 million euros), which, among other initiatives, will improve Dili’s infrastructure.

In a statement, the Government explains that the agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), to be developed over five years, is part of a program worth a total of 484 million dollars (484 million euros) and destined to “reduce poverty through economic growth”.

The investment will focus on two main projects, one to improve the water, sanitation and drainage system and the other in the area of ​​education and training.

The first includes the treatment of water, sewerage, drainage systems, the strengthening of regulatory institutions and agencies, and the creation of a solid supply of water and sewerage for domestic use.

The second provides for the opening of a New Center of Excellence “for the training of new teachers that guarantee quality standards and leadership.”

Of the total estimated US$484 million, US$420 million will be provided by the MCC and the remainder by the Government of Timor-Leste.

“The amount that Timor-Leste will make available will be allocated solely to the water, sewage and drainage treatment projectof which 34 million [de dólares, 34 milhões de euros] it will be used to connect homes and deactivate existing septic tanks,” the government explains.

“The remaining 30 million [de dólares, 30 milhões de euros] will be used to support the conventional system installation and for the installation of water pumps”, he also points out.

The US support program began to be negotiated in December 2017 when the MCC Board of Directors selected Timor-Leste as “eligible for the implementation of a program to promote economic growth, aligned with national development priorities” .

In July 2018, the two parties signed an initial financing agreement, amounting to 750 thousand dollars (750 thousand euros) for the creation of a team, integrated into the Millennium Challenge Compact program, with the mission of identify the economic sectors to develop during program implementation.

In April, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Magalhães, led a high-level delegation, made up of 14 representatives of various government entities, which traveled to Washington to negotiate the final agreement.

The document will be signed in Dili by Fidelis Magalhães and the vice president of MCC, Cameron Alford.

In April, Fidelis Magalhães explained to Lusa that one of the longest aspects of the negotiation was closing the details of the liquid waste treatment center in Dili and the unit that will manufacture material for drinking water treatment.

“The goal then is provide the product to all municipalities in Timorin an accessible way, in order to guarantee that the water is treated locally before consumption,” he said.

Regarding the center of excellence, Magalhães said that the focus will be on the training of teachers and school administrators, with a training component in the two official languages: Tetum and Portuguese.

“The United States supports the national policies and priorities of Timor-Leste and we are seeing other opportunities to work together with other development partners. This is the beginning of a new paradigm,” he explained.

To manage the program, a new Timorese public institute will be created, accompanied by both the MCC and the Timorese government, with a system of international standards that “facilitates efficiency, speed and transparency”.

Source: Observadora

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