East Timor: Gov't budget plan gets green light from parliament

Dili, July 13 (Lusa) - East Timor's state budget for 2005 has been approved by lawmakers in the Dili parliament and the government's plans predict expenditure of USD 132 million in the current tax year.

The budget covers the period from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006 and its proposals were earlier approved by Timor's main foreign donors in April, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri told MPs.

This year's budget predicts a growth in non-petroleum GDP of 6%, said Alkatiri, describing the economic blueprint as "an efficient instrumentÓto promote sustainable economic growth and contribute in a substantial manner to the reduction of poverty".

Over 6,000 new jobs will be created by the budget, MPs were told by Alkatiri, who reminded the Dili legislature that his enlarged executive will be appointed by the end of this month.

The new cabinet, mainly aimed to boost development of Timor's regions, will be sworn in after Alkatiri returns from a working visit to Portugal later this month.

EL/CJB.

Lusa