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Public Procurement in Timor-Leste

Public procurement in Timor-Leste plays a central role in public service delivery, infrastructure development, and post-conflict state-building. As a lower middle-income economy in East Asia and the Pacific, the country operates a centralized procurement system designed to ensure transparency, fiscal discipline, and effective use of public resources.

The procurement framework is characterized by a strong central purchasing role performed by the National Procurement Commission, which conducts large-value procurements on behalf of line ministries and public institutions. The system is supported by a national legal framework and a basic electronic procurement portal primarily used for publication and transparency purposes.

Country & Economic Overview

International Memberships

• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

World Bank Country Page: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/timor-leste

Public Procurement Institutional Framework

• National Procurement Commission (Comissão Nacional de Aprovisionamento - CNA): Central authority responsible for conducting public procurement procedures and acting as the main regulatory and operational procurement body
• Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment (MPIE): Policy oversight and strategic coordination

The National Procurement Commission functions as the sole Central Purchasing Body in Timor-Leste, conducting procurement procedures on behalf of other ministries for large-value projects.

Official Website: http://www.cna.gov.tl/en/

Central Purchasing Body (CPB)

Legal & Regulatory Framework

Public procurement in Timor-Leste is governed by national procurement legislation that establishes procedures for goods, works, and services procurement.

• Public Procurement Law of Timor-Leste

Official Legal Source:

• https://www.mof.gov.tl/category/documents-and-forms/procurement-documents/procurement-law/?lang=en

Procurement Procedures & Thresholds

• Tender Threshold: USD 50,000
• Contract Award Disclosure Threshold: USD 100,000
• Procurement thresholds and procedures apply to goods, works, and services

The National Procurement Commission conducts procurement on behalf of other ministries for:

• Works contracts ≥ USD 1,000,000
• Supplies contracts ≥ USD 250,000
• Services contracts ≥ USD 200,000

E-Procurement Environment

Timor-Leste operates a national electronic procurement portal primarily focused on publication and transparency.

• System Name: Timor-Leste eProcurement Portal
• Official Website: http://eprocurement.gov.tl/public/index
• Launch Year: 2011

• Supports electronic publication and notification of procurement opportunities
• Common spend taxonomy: United Nations Standard Products and Services Classification (UNSPSC)
• System is not used by the World Bank for procurement certification

Transparency, Statistics & Reporting

• Procurement notices and award information are published through the national portal
• Procurement statistics and financial data are accessible via the Ministry of Finance

Key Resource: https://www.mof.gov.tl

Sustainability & Green Public Procurement

The public procurement framework does not establish mandatory green public procurement requirements. Environmental or sustainability considerations may be applied through tender documents at the discretion of procuring entities.

Social & Ethical Considerations

• No specific statutory requirements for awards to women-owned or disadvantaged-group-owned businesses
• Ethical, labor, or social considerations may be included through contract conditions

Practical Considerations for Suppliers

• Large-value procurements are centralized through the National Procurement Commission
• Suppliers should monitor the national eProcurement portal for published opportunities
• Understanding procurement thresholds and CPB mandates is critical for market entry
• Procurement documentation is commonly issued in English and Portuguese

Public Procurement in Timor-Leste is characterized by strong centralization, clear legal thresholds, and a central purchasing authority covering all major economic sectors. The system supports transparency and coordinated public spending, making it a structured and accessible procurement market for domestic and international suppliers.