"Economic Globalization and Investment Opportunities: The CPLP and the Asia-Pacific region" Seminar
On July 24, the Prime Minister participated in a Seminar at the Convention Centre in Dili on the theme "Economic Globalization and Investment Opportunities: the CPLP and the Asia-Pacific region". The meeting brought together representatives of important organizations in the area of economics and potential investors in the private, domestic and international sector, to reflect on possibilities for cooperation in the new pillar introduced by Timor-Leste, the economic pillar, which will be developed during its Rotating Presidency, taken over at the Tenth CPLP Summit, yesterday in Dili.
The welcoming speech, by the Minister of Finance, Emília Pires, included the presentation of the conclusions of the meeting with the Ministers of Finance of CPLP and other specialists in Finance and Economics from global organizations and countries outside the CPLP, held on July 21st .
The first intervention was made by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Pedro Passos Coelho, the first Portuguese Head of State to make an official visit to Timor-Leste. Exploring the theme of Timor-Leste for the biennial Presidency of the organization, "The CPLP and Globalisation", Pedro Passos Coelho considered the future of the community as very promising in economic terms, since the CPLP "represents about 4% of world trade and includes some countries with the most dynamic economies of the regions in which they operate". The Prime Minister of Portugal also highlighted the " huge maritime dimension of the CPLP countries together", noting that together they constitute "one of the largest maritime areas around the world".
The Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, in the opening session, talked about "Timor- Leste's Presidency of CPLP: A Vision towards the Future", which explained that, "Globalisation reduces the distances between us, expands our paths and liberalises connections. It does so within a dynamic network that facilitates the sharing of expertise and experiences, while boosting international trade and investment. Timor-Leste’s vision for the CPLP entails walking those new paths together, in order to achieve development and to provide a better future for our peoples.''
The opening session was ended by the Head of the OCDE Development Centre for Asia, Kensuke Tanaka, who presented the "Annual Outlook 2014 of OCDE (Africa and Asia), including prospects for 2015."
This was followed by two series of presentations and discussions. The first, on "Opportunities and challenges in the Asia Pacific and in a global CPLP" moderated by Secretary of State for ASEAN Affairs, Roberto Soares, with three presentations: by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Murray McCully, by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Special Adviser of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Timor-Leste, Noelen Heyzer, and by the Executive Secretary the CPLP, Murade Murargy.
The second series, on "the private sector in a global era", was moderated by Kathleen Goncalves, from the Chamber of Commerce, and included four presentations: by the President of the Business Confederation of the CPLP, Salimo Abdula, by the former Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry of Timor-Leste, Gil Alves, by the Former Minister of Social Solidarity of Timor-Leste, Arsénio Bano, and by the Former Minister of Economy and Development of Timor-Leste, João Mendes Gonçalves.
The Former Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Mari Alkatiri, closed the Seminar.
