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Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, met with Michael Purdon, Director of the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) in Timor-Leste, to discuss digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and institutional strengthening. 

During the meeting, the Tony Blair Institute presented international experiences of supporting governments in formulating public policies and implementing digital solutions, including in the fields of artificial intelligence and administrative modernisation.

Minister Agio Pereira emphasised the need to strengthen infrastructure, institutional capacity, and digital literacy to address the challenges associated with the country’s growing digitalisation. In this context, he noted that combating cybercrime is one of the Government’s priorities, adding that national legislation on this matter is in the final stages of preparation.

The Minister and the TBI representative also discussed the risks associated with disinformation, the protection of critical infrastructure, the security of government databases, and the need to strengthen national cyber incident response systems.

The meeting also addressed the importance of Timor-Leste’s digital readiness in the context of its accession to ASEAN, including the development of technical capabilities and the strengthening of digital connectivity in municipalities.

The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the need to continue investing in institutional capacity-building, digital inclusion, and national preparedness for the challenges posed by new technologies and artificial intelligence, given that digital transformation presents both opportunities and vulnerabilities.

On May 8^th, 2026, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão attended the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, where he highlighted three priorities for the regional response: energy security and resilience, food security, and regional security and stability. The Summit, chaired by the Philippines and held under the theme “Charting Our Future, Together”, brought together the Heads of State and Government of the Member States. 

In his remarks, the Head of the Government stated that geopolitical tensions continue to affect the global economy, with energy and food systems being affected by conflicts, climate change, and international instability.

“Geopolitical tensions are continually shaping the global economy. Energy and food systems are under severe strain from conflicts, climate change, and international instability. These developments show that economic security, food security, and strategic stability are deeply intertwined and require collective action,” said the Prime Minister.

On energy security, Xanana Gusmão warned of the effects of fuel price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and pressure on public finances, particularly in countries most dependent on fuel imports.

In this context, he argued that ASEAN should continue to diversify its sources of supply, invest in resilient infrastructure, and deepen practical cooperation, particularly through the ASEAN Oil Security Agreement and the ASEAN Energy Network.

“Our shared goal is to build a safer, more diversified, and more sustainable energy system for our region,” he said.

The Prime Minister also noted that the energy crisis directly affects food security, as rising fuel prices increase the costs of production, transport, and fertilisers, making food more expensive and less affordable.

For Timor-Leste, food security is a strategic national priority. The Government has been strengthening this area through programmes to improve agricultural productivity, expand irrigation, and support farmers, fishermen, and rural communities.

Xanana Gusmão also called for stronger regional cooperation to protect ASEAN citizens in crises, including through consular assistance, evacuation, emergency response, and efforts to combat transnational crime, human trafficking, labour exploitation, and cybercrime.

“These challenges require coordinated responses and greater cooperation across law enforcement, immigration, labour protection, border management, victim protection, and public awareness campaigns,” he said.

The Prime Minister also thanked the Member States for their support for Timor-Leste’s full integration into ASEAN and reaffirmed the country’s readiness to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Lê Minh Hưng. During the meeting, the Head of Government congratulated his Vietnamese counterpart on his election. He reiterated Timor-Leste’s commitment to ASEAN as a platform for peace, stability, economic transformation, and regional cooperation.

The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations, with a focus on education and training, trade and investment, fisheries and aquaculture, maritime cooperation, and the blue economy. They also emphasised the importance of deepening people-to-people ties and institutional cooperation in the context of Timor-Leste’s full integration into ASEAN.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the ongoing efforts to establish the Vietnamese Embassy in Dili, viewing the step as another milestone in strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

A new episode of the “Government Page” TV show was recorded today, May 11^th, 2026, at the Government Palace in Dili, featuring the Secretary of State for Land and Property, Jaime Xavier Lopes, and focusing on public policies and the key challenges and priorities in the land and property sector. 

During the interview, topics discussed included the Government’s vision for transparent and effective land management, the protection of citizens’ property rights, the challenges associated with landholdings from the Portuguese and Indonesian periods, the process of land regularisation and certification, and transparency mechanisms within land administration.

The discussion also focused on mediation mechanisms for land disputes, the contribution of land regularisation to food security and the sustainable development of rural communities, as well as the impact of legal land and property registration on attracting private investment and on national economic development.

Organised by the Office of the Government Spokesperson and led by Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the “Government Page” TV show is produced in partnership with Radio and Television of Timor-Leste (RTTL) and national media outlets to strengthen government transparency, accountability, and citizens’ access to information on the Executive Branch’s key decisions and policies.

“Government Page”, a TV show hosted by Nélia Chaves and produced by Ika Moniz, serves as a platform for institutional dialogue focused on the public interest. The show, produced by RTTL, also receives technical support from the communications teams of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and the office of the government official being interviewed.

The episode featuring the Secretary of State for Land and Property will soon be broadcast on RTTL and across social media.

All previously broadcast programs are available on the YouTube channel@PCMPAGINADOGOVERNOTIMORLESTE

On May 6^th, 2026, at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace in Dili, the Vice Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Céu Brites, presented the Conditional Mother’s Allowance Program for Maternal and Child Nutrition (Bolsa da Mãe Kondisionál ba Saúde Nutrisaun Inan no Oan – BdMK-SANUTRIO) during the national launch of the publication “Social Protection for Food Security and Nutrition: Business Case.”

The ceremony was chaired by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, in his capacity as Chair of the Global Task Force on Social Protection for Nutrition. It brought together representatives of the Government, development partners, and other national and international entities to discuss the role of nutrition-sensitive social protection in promoting food security, health, and human capital development. 

In his remarks, the President of the Republic said, “Investing in the health and nutrition of our children is the foundation of a nation’s future prosperity and dignity. No country can develop sustainably if it leaves its most vulnerable citizens behind.”

During the presentation, the Vice Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion highlighted progress in implementing the BdMK-SANUTRIO programme, which is currently collecting household data in the municipalities of Ermera and Covalima, and in the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cússe Ambeno (RAEOA). The process uses the Proxy Means Test (PMT) statistical method to identify vulnerable families eligible for support.

The programme provides conditional cash transfers to pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children from birth to age three, to support regular access to health services and help to prevent malnutrition and stunted growth in children.

The initiative is led by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Statistics of Timor-Leste (INETL), with technical support from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and funding of US$2.5 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for technical assistance.

The Government has also committed US$4.8 million to the programme’s implementation over the next three years, under a memorandum of understanding with the WFP.                                                                                                                             
The publication “Social Protection for Food Security and Nutrition: Business Case,” developed with technical support from the WFP and the Institute of Development Studies, presents evidence on the economic and social benefits of investing in social protection systems focused on food security and nutrition. The document includes Timor-Leste’s experience in the section “Building on Political Will to Advance Nutrition-Sensitive Social Protection in Timor-Leste,” highlighting the SANUTRIO programme as an example of integration among social protection, maternal and child health, and stunting prevention.

The launch also featured a discussion of recent initiatives by the Global Task Force on Social Protection for Nutrition, including international knowledge-sharing exchanges and South-South cooperation to strengthen public policies on nutrition and social protection in less-developed countries and vulnerable contexts.

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The 14th Meeting of Ministers of Education of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) was held on May 7^th, 2026, in Dili, under the theme “Education, Democratic Values, and Civic Participation: The Path to Strengthening CPLP Societies,” bringing together delegations from Member States during Timor-Leste’s Pro Tempore Presidency of the organisation. 

The meeting provided an opportunity to conduct an interim review of the CPLP’s Multilateral Action Plan for Cooperation in Education for 2025–2027, which covers ten strategic areas, including literacy and youth and adult education; food, nutrition, and school health; inclusive education; technical and vocational education; the production of statistics; and the promotion of the Portuguese language in the community’s education systems.

At the opening session, Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares stated that the meeting offers “an opportunity to jointly reaffirm the importance of education as the foundation of sustainable development, democratic citizenship, and the building of more inclusive and resilient societies.”

The minister also emphasised the need for education systems to keep pace with global change by incorporating skills in critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, and technological innovation. “Cooperation within the CPLP is now a strategic necessity that allows us to learn from one another, share solutions, and develop more effective responses for our peoples,” she said.

Miguel Monteiro, Director-General of the CPLP, speaking on behalf of the organisation’s Executive Secretary, Maria de Fátima Jardim, emphasised that education is “a cornerstone of the organisation’s development,” contributing to the strengthening of historical ties among Member States and to the promotion of sustainable development, social inclusion, and democratic citizenship.

During the ministerial meeting, participants also reviewed the progress of the “CPLP Network of Friendly Schools,” an initiative to promote human rights and educational cooperation among schools in member countries. They heard a progress report on projects to promote the Portuguese language, presented by the International Institute of the Portuguese Language (IILP – acronym in Portuguese).

The ministers of education also approved a final declaration encouraging member states to promote appreciation of the CPLP’s literary diversity within their education systems by gradually integrating works and authors from the various Portuguese-speaking countries into Portuguese-language curricula and programmes. The document also expresses interest in creating a CPLP Indicative Reading Plan and recommends institutionalising the CPLP Network on Food, Nutrition, and School Health.

On May 6^th, the 16th Ordinary Meeting of the CPLP Education Focal Points, coordinated by the Coordinating Focal Point, Pedro Ribeiro Gonçalves, preceded the ministerial meeting. The meeting brought together representatives from the Member States to prepare for the ministerial proceedings, assess ongoing initiatives, and strengthen multilateral cooperation in the education sector.

During the technical meeting, Timor-Leste presented three strategic priorities for its Pro Tempore Presidency of the CPLP in the field of education: the Network of Child-Friendly Schools, School Feeding, Nutrition, and Health, and Inclusive Education. Participants also discussed common challenges facing the education systems of member countries and new courses of action to strengthen inclusive and innovative education policies across the Portuguese-speaking world.

On that occasion, Pedro Ribeiro Gonçalves emphasised that “education is an essential pillar for the sustainable development of our societies, requiring political commitment, technical cooperation, and a shared strategic vision.”

On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, Portugal’s Secretary of State for School Administration, Maria Luísa Oliveira, informed the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, that the Portuguese Government will proceed with the procedures for the construction of the new facilities for the Portuguese School in Dili – the Ruy Cinatti Centre for Portuguese Language and Education, with an estimated investment of approximately 21 million euros.

The future facilities will be built on land granted by the Timorese government to the Portuguese government for 99 years, in accordance with the resolution approved by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on September 27^th, 2023, regarding the granting of land in the Caicoli area for the new educational institution.

Currently with approximately 1,400 students, ranging from preschool through Senior Secondary (Years 10–12), the Portuguese School of Dili will be able to accommodate up to about 2,000 students in its new facilities, which are expected to include classrooms, laboratories, a library, sports facilities, and common areas.

The 14th Meeting of CPLP Ministers of Education took place in the year the organisation celebrated its 30th anniversary and was preceded by the 4th International Seminar on Best Practices in School Meals and the launch ceremony for Portuguese Language Week.

 

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