Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will not be met in Timor-Leste (East Timor) by the target date of 2015, despite the progress made since independence in 2002, according to a report released in Dili by the Ministry of Finance.

“While it is possible that none of the MDGs will be achieved, many indicators show a significant and sustained improvement in living standards in Timor-Leste,” said the report on the progress of MDGs in Timor-Leste in 2014, cited by Portuguese news agency Lusa.

The document states that the progress made is “remarkable,” given the situation the country was in in 2002 when independence was restored, without any infrastructure, services and state institutions.

“It is unlikely that Timor-Leste can achieve the goal of having only 14% of the population living below the poverty line in 2015,” said the document, noting that the analysis may not be correct due to lack of data since 2009 and strong growth in non-oil GDP and household consumption.

“It is possible that poverty has fallen dramatically in the period between 2009 and 2012,” the report said.

The MDGs on environmental sustainability will also not be achieved said the government of Timor-Leste, despite the increase of population with access to safe water and sanitation.

Regarding the global partnership for development, the document noted that foreign aid for development programmes decreased to US$230 million per year and access to new technologies increased with the latest census indicating that almost half the population has access to a mobile phone. (macauhub/TL)