Government of Timor-Leste

Following the reception held by the Presidency of the Republic for foreign ambassadors accredited in  Timor-Leste, both resident and non-resident, the government organized a presentation session today, February 20^th, 2025, to inform the diplomats of the main initiatives, programs and priorities of the IX Constitutional Government. 

The session was inaugurated by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, who highlighted Timor-Leste's growing international presence and the progress made in strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The Minister also stressed the government's commitment to multilateralism, referring to Timor-Leste recent accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the ongoing efforts to implement the commitments related to the ASEAN accession process. 

The event also featured an intervention by the Secretary General of the g7+, Helder da Costa, who addressed Timor-Leste's central role in this intergovernmental organization. He highlighted the g7+'s contribution to consolidating peace, promoting dialogue and conflict mediation, as well as raising awareness and promoting new approaches to development in international forums and supporting national reconciliation processes. 

The Minister of Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, talked about cooperation in security and border management, reiterating the government's commitment to modernizing the sector and implementing structural reforms. “We continue to invest in developing the operational capacity of our security agents to respond to the immediate needs of the community,” he said. The Minister also highlighted the various cooperation initiatives in the field of cross-border security, the Immigration Cooperation Working Group (ICWG) and the Memorandums of Understanding signed between the Timor-Leste National Police and its partner police forces. 

The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, presented the government's strategy for the sustainable development of the oil and mining sector, highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing the country. “Timor-Leste has vast natural resources and our commitment is to maximize their use to generate economic growth and create value for the population,” he said. The Minister also gave an overview of the sector's legal and institutional framework, addressing the main potential for onshore and offshore development, as well as the perspectives for mineral extraction. He also highlighted the importance of the TLNG (Timor-Leste Liquefied Natural Gas) project and its potential to “generate a huge socio-economic impact in Timor-Leste”.  

The Governor of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste, Helder Lopes, presented an overview of the national economy and the financial sector, highlighting the main strategies for growth and sustainable development. Among the goals outlined for the future are 5% annual economic growth, a 10% increase in private investment, the consolidation of a robust and accessible financial sector, and the ambition to make Timor-Leste an upper-middle income country by 2030. The strategy involves creating an environment conducive to the private sector, improving infrastructure, strengthening human capital and adopting prudent fiscal policies to ensure macroeconomic stability. Helder Lopes also highlighted the national commitment to economic diversification, financial inclusion and strengthening competitiveness, with the promotion of attractive tax incentives and the expansion of Timor-Leste's integration into global markets through the WTO, ASEAN and free trade agreements. 

The session was closed by Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, representing the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, who said that “Timor-Leste is at a decisive moment in its development trajectory. We have a clear vision for the future, and we invite you to continue to engage with us, to explore opportunities for collaboration and investment, and to work together to build a more resilient, prosperous and inclusive Timor-Leste.”

The Governor explained that “at the center of our development agenda is a solid and sustainable infrastructure program”, stressing that “it's not just about physical infrastructure - it's about laying the foundations for economic transformation and ensuring that all Timorese, regardless of where they live, have access to essential opportunities and services”. 

He also stressed the importance of “implementing these measures” “to reduce regional inequalities, improve the quality of life of the population and ensure sustainable economic growth.”

 Minister Agio Pereira also said that “Timor-Leste is actively promoting growth in key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism and the blue economy, in order to create sustainable employment opportunities” and that the “Government is committed to supporting the private sector, encouraging investment and improving the business environment to boost economic growth.” 

At the end of his speech, he expressed his “deepest gratitude”, “on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Government of Timor-Leste”, reiterating the will of the Executive to “continue this dialogue and this cooperation, while we fight for a more prosperous future for all Timorese.”