Government of Timor-Leste

The Government of Timor-Leste with the support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB’s) Timor-Leste Resident Mission, will host a virtual ADB Board Group Visit (vBGV) to Timor-Leste in August 2021 – this was confirmed in a meeting held today between the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes and the ADB Country Director, Sunil Mitra.

This upcoming vBGV will be an opportunity for the Executive and Alternate Executive Directors of the Board: (i) to gain a greater understanding of the development experience and the needs of the Developing Member Countries (DMCs) that they visit, and of the region; (ii) to become better acquainted with ADB’s activities in its DMCs; and (iii) to appreciate the opportunities and constraints for donor coordination.

This High-Level Visit facilitates the DMCs’ officials to solicit feedback on the development aspects falling within the portfolio of ADB to the host country. More importantly, it will be a unique momentum for the relevant members of the Government to strengthen the relationship with the Bank in order to support Timor-Leste in achieving its development goals.

This vBGV will be the first time in the history of Timor-Leste for being chosen to host such a high-level forum, for which Timor-Leste is greatly honored. The decision by ADB is grounded with the fact that the ADB’s operations in the country was transferred from the Pacific Regional Department to its Southeast Asia Regional Department. This shift further enhances Timor-Leste’s visibility within the region and therefore it further reaffirms Timor-Leste’s aspiration to join ASEAN.

This very first vBGV to be hosted by Timor-Leste, will involve several policy and technical discussions, among others, a presentation from the Resident Mission Office on country’s historical and economic context as well as the ADB’s past, present and future projects. The Board Group will also intend to virtually visit and hear presentations from the relevant State Institutions, for which the specific details will be further confirmed in due course. While specifically, at the Executive level, the Board Group will meet with Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes who is also the Governor representing Timor-Leste at ADB, and other relevant line ministries, autonomous agencies, Development Partners as well as the private sectors.