Local Governance Development Exhibition and National Fair Mark the Start of Celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence
The President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, inaugurated the Local Governance Development Exhibition and National Fair on November 24th, 2025, in Tasi Tolu, marking the start of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Unilateral Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The ceremony was attended by the President of the National Organizing Committee and Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral. 
The activities are part of the national program commemorating November 28th, 1975, celebrated this year under the slogan ‘May the celebration of these 50 years of the past give us confidence in the present and hope for the future!” The Organizing Committee kicked off the commemorative calendar on November 3rd with the opening of the futsal competition, with the exhibition scheduled to close on November 29th in Tasi Tolu.
The program includes municipal pavilions where agricultural products are presented and demonstrations of local governance by the 12 municipalities, the Administrative Region of Oe-cusse and Ambeno, and the Administrative Authority of Ataúro. The national exhibition also includes content from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of State Administration, while other ministries promote decentralized activities in the municipalities, in accordance with the Prime Minister's order.
The celebrations include futsal competitions, traditional dancing, municipal development exhibitions, gastronomy and handicrafts. Around 150 groups of local producers participate in the gastronomy and handicrafts area. The cultural component features dance groups and bands from Timor and the Timorese diaspora in Sydney.
As part of the religious and civic celebrations, Thanksgiving Mass will be held on November 27th at Dili Cathedral, organized by the Dili Municipal Authority. This will be followed by a tribute to the Heroes of the Nation, with a symbolic laying of flowers at the Nain-Feto Monument in Lecidere and at the Garden of Heroes in Metinaro.
No dia 28 de novembro, terão lugar as cerimónias oficiais de içar e arriar da Bandeira Nacional no Palácio do Governo, às 8h00 e às 17h00, respetivamente.
On November 28th, the official flag-raising and lowering ceremonies will take place at the Government Palace at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., respectively.
