Vice-Minister Augusto Trindade attends ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting
The Vice-Minister of Trade and Industry, Augusto Júnior Trindade, took part in the Second ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM 2/56), held between April 21st and 24th 2025, in the context of the Malaysian chairmanship of ASEAN. The Vice-Minister represented Timor-Leste as an observer country, reaffirming the country's firm commitment to the process of full membership of the regional bloc.
During the working session, Augusto Júnior Trindade emphasized the importance of SEOM's role in formulating proposals to be submitted to Ministers of Economic of ASEAN, stressing the importance of economic agreements in strengthening ASEAN's legal and institutional architecture. ‘We recognize the relevance of these agreements in strengthening ASEAN's legal and economic architecture, and we reaffirm our commitment to aligning with the bloc's legal structures and priorities,’ said the Vice Minister, adding that Timor-Leste is prepared to join the 66 ASEAN Economic Agreements and implement the actions on the Accession Roadmap Priority List.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Vice-Minister held a bilateral meeting with the Executive Director of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Aladdin Rillo, at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, where ERIA's areas of activity were presented, and future forms of cooperation were discussed. The dialogue focused on sustainable economic development strategies and the need for evidence-based public policies to facilitate Timor-Leste's integration into the economic structures of ASEAN and the East Asian region. Both sides expressed mutual interest in strengthening technical and analytical collaboration.
The main objectives of the SEOM 2/56 meeting were to assess progress on the priorities of the Malaysian presidency, namely in the areas of trade, investment, sustainability, regional integration and the development of the digital economy. The agenda also included preparing for the next ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting, reviewing the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), and updating the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), as well as strengthening cooperation with dialogue partners such as China, India, Japan and South Korea.
Under the slogan ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, the Malaysian presidency prioritized strategic directions for promoting trade and investment, drawing up a roadmap for inclusion, strengthening economic connectivity and consolidating a resilient digital economy. Timor-Leste's participation in this high-level platform reinforces its gradual integration into ASEAN and helps align its policies with the common standards and objectives of the regional bloc.
