Government of Timor-Leste

At its meeting on october 2nd 2024, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the Portugal – Timor-Leste Strategic Cooperation Program for the period 2024 to 2028. The presentation was led by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco da Costa Guterres, and the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel. This program aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in strategic areas, in line with global goals such as the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the program of the IX Government of Timor-Leste and other national develoment plans.

The program focuses on five priority areas: Human Development, Rule of Law and Good Governance, Public Administration and Economy, Youth and Employment, and Oceans and Sustainability. The actions planned include strengthening education and health, modernizing public administration, promoting justice and good governance, fostering youth entrepreneurship, and environmental protection. With an indicative budget of 75 million euros (around 82 million US dollars), this cooperation program aims to contribute to the sustainable development of Timor-Leste and well-being of its population.

The Council of Ministers also gave powers to the Vice Prime Minister, Francisco Kalbuady Lay, to sign the cooperation protocol between Timor-Leste and Portugal under the REVIVE Program. The initiative aims to promote and speed up the process of recovering, preserving and modernizing public heritage, transforming it into an economic asset for the benefit of the country, especially local communities. The program will cover 14 historic properties in various regions of the country, with the recovery and use pf these spaces for economic activities related to the tourism sector, in all its aspects, namely cultural, ecological, thermal, mountain and blue tourism.

The Cooperation Agreement between Timor-Leste and Portugal for infrastructure development was also presented. This agreement aims to collaborate in areas such as civil engineering, transport, telecomunications, energy and water, with the aim of improving Timor-Leste’s technical and regulatory capacity, promoting growth and national modernization.

These agreement will be signed during the official visit to Portugal by the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, accompanied by several members of the Government, which will take place from October 12^th to 18^th 2024.

Also within the scope of foreign policy, the Council of Ministers approved visa exemption agreements for holder of diplomatic and service passports with the Philippines, Vietnam and India, with the aim of facilitating mobility between these countries and Timor-Leste. the air services agreement with Malaysia was also approved, with a view to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting the development of the air transport sector, a key element for the country’s interconnectivity, economic growth and tourism.