Project description

Title: Establishing the maritime transport sector
Commissioned by: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Country: Timor-Leste
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Transport and Communication
Overall term: January 2005 to December 2009

Context

Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002 as a (small) island state with the enclave Oecussi-Ambeno in Indonesian West Timor and the islands of Atauro and Jaco. Independence was however preceded by wide-spread destruction of the state’s infrastructure and the complete withdrawal of Indonesian administrative personnel.

Maritime transport and port management are still at an early stage. There are only a few trained sailors, and most of these are employed in Indonesia. Timor-Leste is neither in a position to operate nor maintain ships at the moment. The adverse effects include inadequate links to the more remote parts of the country and a rise in the cost of agricultural goods and essential supply goods due to a rise in transport costs.

The young state needs to expand and organise its maritime transport sector more efficiently if it is to make headway in general economic terms, as lower transport costs translate into greater competitiveness on the export market. If the poorer regions of Oecussi and Atauro can be reached more cost effectively, the population will have better access to markets and income. This means a significant contribution to poverty reduction.

Objective

As a key precondition for economic development, an efficient maritime transport sector links up the ports of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste with other destination ports outside the country.

Approach

GTZ is advising the Ministry for Transport and Communication (MTC) on the completion of the legal and regulatory framework for the maritime transport sector in Timor-Leste. This includes recognition of international agreements and regulations as well as membership in the International Maritime Organisation. The port authority APORTIL is being supported in connection with studies and analyses and staff training.

Germany’s development bank, the KfW, is funding the operation of a ferry connection to Oecussi and Atauro. GTZ consultancy aims to improve the performance capacity of both state and private actors in the maritime sector. This includes, for example, improving the quality of ferry connections and port services. In this way, transport costs and times are reduced and inaccessible, poorer regions are reached more easily.

Results achieved so far

Basic transport connections have been established: twice a week to the enclave of Oecussi and once a week to the island of Atauro. The ferry connection is used by the population and the volume of transport has increased steadily since 2003.