OE-CUSSEOUTLOOK ISSUE 1 | VOLUME 1| 2016
IN THIS ISSUE
Progress on Public Investments SEED Fund for Oe—Cusse Partnerships with International Organizations Policy Forums launched Focus on Skills Building Key Strategies Developed
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elcome to the first issue of the Oe-Cusse Outlook, the official newsletter of the Authority of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno and the Special Zones of Social Market Economy (ZEESM). Through this newsletter we will regularly share information on our policies, plans and progress. The newsletter will be published every two months and is intended to supplement our efforts to communicate with the public and other stakeholders through the social media, local press and electronic media. My administration is striving hard to improve public services as well as continue the rapid strides made on public infrastructure investments. We are committed to building a prosperous Oe-Cusse, where a strong, modern and vibrant economy will benefit everyone equally, not the select few. Our vision is that of building an economy that embraces free-market economic principles, but does not forsake the social responsibilities of the State or of the private sector. Our efforts are already bearing fruit as global giants like Microsoft, several Swiss firms and top academic institutions like Harvard Business School and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy are partnering us.
However, these new partnerships demand a new public administration, one that is client-oriented, modern, efficient, responsive and results-driven. With the help of the UNDP, we are instituting mechanisms that help transform our public sector and we will share details in this newsletter.
ZEESM AIRLINES TAKES OFF ! Timor-Leste’s first commercial government-owned airline, ZEESM Airlines was launched in February 2016. This represents a major step toward geographic and commercial connectivity between the mainland and the enclave of OeCusse. A brand new 19-seater Twin Otter plane transports passengers to Pante Macassar from Dili five times a week on a scenic 40-minute journey. There are plans to explore connecting Oe-Cusse with other local destinations soon.
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“Our vision embraces market economy principles, without forsaking the social responsibilities of the State or of the private sector”
2.41 % Population Growth Rate of Oe-Cusse since 2010. The national average is 1.81
OE-CUSSE FACT FILE SEX RATIO: 101
4.8 82.9% |17.1%
Average Household Size, up from 4.6 in 2010. The national average is 5.7
72,230 That is Oe-Cusse’s population according to the 2015 National Popuilation Census. This makes OeCusse the 7th largest region in Timor-Leste.
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THE OE-CUSSE OUTLOOK
AUGUST 2016
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (SEED) FUND Agriculture is the backbone of the Oe-Cusse economy but it suffers from poor productivity, lack of financing and support services for better marketing and business orientation. In order to optimize and build on existing comparative advantages in the agriculture sector and to address issues of financing and capacity building of entrepreneurs, the Authority of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno and Special Zones of Social Market Economy (ZEESM) has established a Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (SEED) Fund. The Fund aims to:
Create an institutional vehicle for promotion of market based solutions for addressing local economic and developmental needs in Oe-Cusse. Institute a system for morphing traditional, subsistence agriculture practices into more modern, and market oriented ones. Create linkages with local, regional and international markets for Oe-Cusse’s agribusinesses.
The SEED Fund (the Fund) is structured as a hybrid version of an Incubator and an Accelerator and has three distinct yet inter-related roles:
Building social entrepreneurship networks platforms and models for agribusiness supply chains. Putting in place institutional arrangements to offer a suite of business advisory, information and support services to promote, enable and facilitate social entrepreneurship in Oe-Cusse. Addressing the critical issue of access to financing by developing a range of innovative financing modalities and financial instruments. The SEED Fund will provide financing in a variety of ways, including seed funding, ramp-up stage or Series B financing and patient capital.
The Fund has been capitalized by the Authority itself but active efforts have begun to seek attract Angel and Venture Capital financing. The framework for the Fund is visualized below:
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THE OE-CUSSE OUTLOOK
AUGUST 2016
Progress on Public Infrastructure Development OE-CUSSE POWER PLANT
Our plans for putting in place world-class drastically and lowering costs of freight infrastructure is on track. Some of the major transportation. achievements include: Irrigation System Through multi-year Solving the Energy Crisis Our first power financing of over $11m, a 29 kilometer canal is plant has helped close a decades-old energy being built, which will cover 1,700ha of rice gap, with 82% of Oe-Cusse’s territory now production farmland. More than 1,000 having 24-hour access to electricity. With the households will benefit from this investment, world-renowned Wärtsilä contracted to enabling multiple crops, better food security manage the Operations and Maintenance and higher incomes. (O&M), Oe-Cusse energy sector is on secure footing. Better Healthcare for All The new referral hospital and clinic provide an excellent start to Improving Connectivity The bridge over our plans for bringing high-quality healthcare River Tono will connect different parts of the infrastructure and services to Oe-Cusse. region, facilitate communities, businesses and State-of-the-art lab and diagnostic facilities are farmers alike. Similarly, the new expressway being introduced, complemented by from Sakato to Lifau and the 50 km of paved partnership with the Government of roads nearing completion facilitate commuters Philippines for building capacity for nursing and businesses alike, cutting down travel time care.
BRIDGE OVER RIVER TONO
THE NEW REFERRAL HOSPITAL
MOU’S SIGNED WITH SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE, UNDP GLOBAL CENTRE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE EXCELLENCE AND BLUE VENTURES
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s parts of its efforts to leverage the strengths of some of the world’s leading organizations for the benefit of the people of Oe-Cusse and implementing its innovative ‘Partnering with the Best’ policy, the Authority of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno (SAROA) and Special Zones for Social Market Economy (ZEESM) formalized collaboration with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence (GCPSE). Both these partner-
ships are part of the Authority’s plans under the ‘Support to the Institutional Development of Oe-Cusse Special Administrative Region and ZEESM’ Project with UNDP. Speaking at the signing ceremonies, Dr. Mari Alkatiri, said that: “Access to high quality dispute resolution services is a prime concern for investors and contractors. By partnering with SIAC, we have ensured that anyone investing in OeCusse can be assured of dispute resolution services of the highest standards. This is an innovative step we have taken and sends a clear message to the private sector: Oe-Cusse offers an enabling, world class business environment”. On the partnership with the UNDP Global Centre, President Alkatiri said that “If we want to change from subsistence to a market economy, the public sector must have the skills and the mechanisms to achieve that goal. Otherwise, we will struggle to deliver on our plans. The UNDP Global Centre will help us build these skills.”. The CEO of the SIAC, Ms. Lim Seok Hui said that “The SIAC is delighted to partner with the Authority and I commend Dr. Alkatiri for his vision for Oe-Cusse’s social and economic development”. Mr. Max Philips-Everest, Director of the GCPSE stated that “We recognize the range of challenges that face the Oe-Cusse administration in terms of institutional capacity and we will help in this respect by using innovative tools and resources”.
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THE OE-CUSSE OUTLOOK
AUGUST 2016
THREE POLICY FORUMS LAUNCHED President Alkatiri recently announced the launch of three high-level policy forums, which aim to harness global, regional and national expertise to address OeCusse’s development challenges. The three forums are: The Oe-Cusse High-Level Policy Roundtable The Oe-Cusse Climate Action Task Force
The Oe-Cusse Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Response Forums
The Forums are established through the Support to Institutional Development of Oe -Cusse Special Administrative Region and ZEESM Project managed by the UNDP. They will bring together a diverse team of world-renowned leaders, influencers and shapers of public policy to help blend local insights with global approaches. Through these forums, not only will the Authority benefit from the wealth of experience and expertise that members would bring, but provide a unique learning opportunity for the Authority’s staff and national experts. The first Forums were held in July 2016, focusing on SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), led by Singapore Polytechnic and on SDG 9 (Innovation, Industry & Infrastructure), led by Microsoft.
“In this age of connectedness, we need to tap into global networks to ensure our policies are world-class. These forums will help us harness global expertise for the betterment of the people of Oe-Cusse” Dr. Mari Alkatiri, President of the Authority
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING AND M&E
PROCUREMENT
President Alkatiri has approved strategies on rural development, planning and moni toring and procurement. The strategies were developed by international special ists recruited under the Support to Institutional Development of Oe-Cusse Special Administrative Region and ZEESM Project managed by the UNDP. They aim to strengthen the ability of the Authority to plan and measure performance through innovations such as a Delivery Unit, Data Analytics Centre and Citizen Reporting and regnerate the rural economy by focusing on agri and eco business development. Similarly, to make procurement processes more efficient and transparent, eProcurement, SOPs and Procurement Fairs will be introduced.
Key Strategies Approved
SETTING THE SKILLS BUILDING AGENDA IN OE-CUSSE
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Unemployment, especially among youth, is a serious challenge confronting OeCusse’s economy. With skills and education levels low and economic activity still in nascent stages of development, creating jobs and empowering the labour force with skills is a prime policy imperative. With a view to developing a strategic and policybased approach as opposed to a projectised one, the President of the Authority of the Oe-Cusse SAR and ZEESM has approved the implementation of a Skills Building Agenda. The Agenda calls for implementing a market-driven program for workforce development, coupled with a focus on youth entrepreneurship and facilitating new skills for global economy. Plans are underway to enter into partnerships with some of the world’s leading skills building organizations, developing qualification frameworks, standards and curricula tailored to Oe-Cusse’s needs.
THIS NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED UNDER THE SUPPORT TO THE INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OE-CUSSE SAR AND ZEESM PROJECT. All Copyrights rest with the Authority of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno and ZEESM TL. 4