Joaquim Amaral

Joaquim Amaral (born 17 July 1968 During the 2001–2007 Parliamentary term, he was a member of the Committee for Infrastructure (Committee G). and also as the Permanent Representative of East Timor to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which is based in Bangkok.

Following a change in the governing coalition, and the admission of Fretilin to the VIII Constitutional Government, Amaral was sworn in as Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs on 24 June 2020. In that capacity, he was the official in charge of leading the negotiations for East Timor to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

After being appointed as Coordinating Minister, Amaral also sought to diversify East Timor's economy beyond its strong dependence upon oil and gas, by promoting other industries including mining, agriculture, fisheries and tourism.

Amaral's tenure as Minister ended when the IX Constitutional Government took office on 1 July 2023. He was succeeded by Francisco Kalbuadi Lay.