Timor-Leste Participates in the 40th Edition of Trade Expo Indonesia and Strengthens Bilateral Trade Relations
The Vice Prime-Minister, Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, participated in the 40th edition of Trade Expo Indonesia, which took place in Jakarta from October 15th to 19th, organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Trade. The minister was accompanied by the Indonesian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Okto Dorinus Manik, and the Timor-Leste Ambassador to Indonesia, Roberto Soares.
The exhibition was attended by several members of the Indonesian government and representatives from around 130 countries. Held under the theme “Discover Indonesia's Excellence: Trade Beyond Boundaries,” the initiative aims to promote Indonesia's export products and services in global markets and strengthen international economic partnerships. 
The event included a special pavilion dedicated to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, called “BISA Ekspor” (Berani Inovasi, Siap Adaptasi Ekspor – “Courage to Innovate, Readiness to Adapt to Export”), created to support entrepreneurs in preparing their products for export.
On the sidelines of his participation in Trade Expo Indonesia, the Vice Prime-Minister held a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Minister of Trade Budi Santoso, during which he expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto—conveyed through the Minister of Trade—for his continued support for Timor-Leste. Budi Santoso, during which he expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto — conveyed through the Minister of Trade — for the continued support provided to Timor-Leste in the process of officially joining ASEAN, scheduled for October 26th, 2025.
The Vice Prime-Minister emphasized that ASEAN membership will open up new opportunities for cooperation, particularly in the private sector and regional connectivity, strengthening the foundations for economic and trade integration between Timor-Leste and Southeast Asian countries.
The Timorese leader also expressed his gratitude for the invitation to participate in the 40th edition of Trade Expo Indonesia, which was attended by Timorese companies of different sizes, supported by the Indonesian Embassy in Dili and the Timor-Leste Embassy in Jakarta. He also highlighted the symbolism of this participation, just a few days before Timor-Leste's official accession to ASEAN.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Okto Dorinus Manik, thanked the Vice Prime Minister for his presence and highlighted the Timorese Government's commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations. The Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Indonesia, Roberto Soares, also praised the efforts of the Timorese businesspeople present at the Expo, noting that their participation contributes to increasing the country's visibility and strengthening business cooperation between the two countries.
The President of the Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry or (CCI-TL) of the Municipality of Ermera, Luís Alves Tilman, considered that participation in Trade Expo Indonesia is an important opportunity to learn more about Indonesia's economic and industrial development and promote business partnerships between the two countries.
Trade Expo Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia's largest trade fairs, serving as a platform for promotion and economic exchange between countries in the region and their international partners.
