Timor-Leste participates in Tourism Investment Roundtable at AIM 2025 Congress
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Nino Pereira, participated on behalf of the Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, in the Ministerial Round Table on Investment in the Tourism Sector, which was part of the AIM 2025 Congress - Annual Investment Meeting, held from April 7th to 9th in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 
The AIM Congress is an international platform that promotes global investment and enhances economic cooperation among countries. The 2025 edition gathered over 60 ministers, heads of state, central bank presidents, entrepreneurs, investors, and experts from around the globe, centred on the theme “Mapping the Future of Global Investment: The New Wave of the Globalised Investment Scenario - Towards a New Balanced World Structure”. The event addressed various strategic sectors, including foreign direct investment, trade, cities of the future, finance, technology, energy, smart agriculture, health, and tourism. 
During his participation in the Ministerial Round Table dedicated to tourism, Minister Nino Pereira presented the Government's strategy to promote investment in this sector, which is considered a priority for the country's economic diversification and sustainable development. In his speech, the Minister emphasised that “the Government of Timor-Leste is committed to establishing an attractive environment for private investment in tourism, focusing on valuing the natural and cultural heritage, improving infrastructure and qualifying human resources”. 
The Minister also emphasised that Timor-Leste is aligning with global trends in the sector, such as the increasing demand for sustainable experiences, the digitalisation of tourism services, the development of resilient infrastructure, and the enhancement of community tourism. “We are implementing concrete measures under the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030, which include expanding air connectivity, regulatory reforms to facilitate investment, and partnerships with international agencies and regional players”, he stated.
Timor-Leste's presence at the congress also offered the chance to exchange experiences with countries implementing tourism development models adaptable to the Timorese context, while strengthening knowledge about funding mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and effective legislative practices.
Elias de Jesus Fátima, the Coordinator of the Cooperation, Partnership, and Reform Office at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, accompanied the Minister.
