Media Release - FRETILIN will create 24,000 additional jobs for the youth

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2007 Parliamentary Elections

“Defending Timor-Leste’s independence”

Media release
7 June 2007

FRETILIN will create 24,000 additional jobs for the youth

FRETILIN, the largest political party in Timor-Leste, will create 24,000 additional jobs in Timor-
Leste over the next five years as a result of planned infrastructure projects in the key areas of
electricity, water and roads.
Inacio Moreira, FRETILIN candidate in the June 30 parliamentary elections, and current Minister for
Transport and Communications, said that the additional jobs would be allocated to young East
Timorese who would be provided training and the opportunity to develop their skills. An amount of
$26 million is allocated to workforce skills development as part of the package.
“The infrastructure projects were part of the program for accelerated national development which had
been developed by several ministers from the FRETILIN government and their civil servants over the
last 12 months. The budget for the program has been prepared and initial planning completed. Work
will begin after 30 June 2007.
He added: “We are planning to develop our electricity network, construct new roads and repair old
ones and upgrade Timor-Leste’s water supply systems.”
Moreira said “The projects will attract significant foreign investment, but it will be planned and
regulated so that Timor-Leste stays in control of the projects. The FRETILIN government would also
support East Timorese businesses to win contracts to do the work.”
“It takes long term planning and good economic management to create jobs and the FRETILIN
government has vowed that international contractors who are brought in from overseas will transfer
their skills and knowledge to local East Timorese workers.”
Without the Accelerated Program, the number of jobs was still going to rise, from 282,000 in 2006 to
334,000 by 2013. With the program, the number of jobs will rise to 358,000. In other words, the
program stimulates the economy, and creates 24,000 extra jobs.
“This is a realistic program. If we want to be in control of our own development, we need to build our
infrastructure over several years. If we want the work to bring jobs and contracts to Timorese workers
and businesses, we have to train our people to do things for themselves. Doing everything at once
just brings in more foreigners to control our economy and do the work, and take the money out of
Timor. This will mean that we will never achieve our own independence.”
For more information, please send an email to fretilin.media@gmail.com
www.timortruth.com, www.fretilin-rdtl.blogspot.com,