East Timor Industry


There is an industrial sector next to the oil and gas industry, but it is small and relatively undeveloped. Manufacturing of textiles, furniture and coffee is most important.

Capital comes from government investments, aid and some foreign investment. This also applies to the irrigation channels that are necessary for coffee cultivation. Lack of well-educated manpower prevails, which hinders the continued development of the industry.

East Timor Industry

2020

June

New four-party government

June 24th

Prime Minister Ruak appoints additional ministers, thus leading a four-party coalition that controls 41 of the 65 seats in Parliament. The coalition consists of Ruak’s own party PLP, Fretilin, Khunto and the Democratic party. Xanana Gusmão’s party CNRT goes in opposition after failing to get enough support to form a government. The new government is expected to increase spending to deal with the corona pandemic in a new state budget as well as increase the withdrawal from the oil fund for the same reason. The money will go to, among other things, the purchase of medicines and medical equipment. At the time, East Timor had 24 confirmed cases of coronary infection, all of whom had recovered from the disease.

April

Taur Matan Ruak again prime minister

April 8

Taur Matan Ruak re-enters as prime minister to lead the country through the crisis of the corona pandemic. His reformed government approves a $ 250 million bailout package to combat the spread of the new corona virus. East Timor has two confirmed cases of corona-infected individuals and no deaths in covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.

February

The government is cracking down

February 25th

Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak resigns after his tripartite crackdown. This happens after a long period of internal power struggles, which again throws East Timor into political turmoil. Three days earlier, CNRT leader Gusmão has stepped down and said he supported him to form a new six-party government with the Democratic Party (PD) and Khunto, among others. In this case, the new government would receive the support of 34 of the 65 MEPs.

January

The government in crisis

January 17

Despite the fact that the ruling party coalition AMP has a majority of seats in parliament, the government’s budget proposals are voted down. The reason is that 20 out of 21 CNRT members are absent in the vote due to internal contradictions within the government. The two smaller government parties, PLP and Khunto, vote in favor of the draft budget. Three days later, Prime Minister Ruak says the coalition “no longer exists”. PLP and Khunto want to prioritize welfare and efforts towards climate change, while CNRT invests heavily in infrastructure development that supports the country’s oil and gas extraction, where among other things CNRT leader Gusmão has great financial interests.

East Timor Industry

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