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Macroeconomics Policies
Promote Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction (December 16, 2004) |
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As
the economic advisor to Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude
Alkartiri, senior economist Jose Garcia-Medrano works with senior
government officials to help them shape important macroeconomic
policies and practices for the new country. Through these high-level
policies and practices, the government is addressing Timor-Leste's
toughest economic challenge: poverty reduction.
"The problem of poverty is
a multifaceted one involving economics, education, infrastructure,
and institutions," Garcia-Medrano explained. He assists in
a number of areas, including:
- improving the process of the government's budget preparations
- increasing the efficiency of public expenditure management
- maintaining macroeconomic stability
- supporting a strong private sector and enabling legislation
for it
- establishing policies for the development of Timor Sea resources
and a prudent savings policy for the revenue.
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Senior economist Jose Garcia-Medrano advises Timor-Leste's prime
minister on macroeconomic
policy and legislation.
Photo by Lisa Rogers, USAID
Small Grants Program
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"What the government
is aiming at in its new policies and laws," he said, "is
the promotion of an efficient environment for sustainable economic
growth over time."
"The most interesting and challenging
trait of working in this capacity in Timor-Leste is that after the
period of violence and destruction in 1999, a new country is emerging,
and I am part of that building process," he said. "The
Timorese are facing the difficulties of starting from scratch.
The advantage is that they did not have to demolish any existing
dysfunctional institutions. They can analyze the examples of other
countries, such as those in Southeast Asia and Africa, and adjust
the construction of economic, political, and social institutions
to the needs and realities of their country. Most relevant of all
is that they are working very hard to reach these goals." Garcia-Medrano
feels that one of his key contributions has been in public expenditure
management and budget execution. He is a member of the prime minister's
Commission to Monitor the Execution of the Public-Sector Budget.
He is also actively involved in the government's cooperative work
with international donor organizations, participating in discussions
about the Transitional Support Program and the preparation for
the annual donors meetings. Over time, donor assistance will be
replaced in part by revenues from Timor Sea resources. "An
important challenge for Timor-Leste is how to devise a policy to
use oil and gas revenues efficiently in the present and how to
save some of that revenue stream to satisfy the needs of future
generations."
Garcia-Medrano is an economic expert for the Louis Berger Group,
Inc., a USAID implementing partner in Timor-Leste. USAID supports
Garcia-Medrano's work in the Office of the Prime Minister to help
Timor-Leste's government promote strong and sustainable economic
structures through policy-making, capacity-building, and legislation.
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