The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation launched, on 12 March 2026 in Dili, the third edition of the national leadership programme Futuru Líder Ba ASEAN (FLBA), the nation’s flagship leadership development programme designed to prepare the next generation of Timorese leaders for Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN and for contributing to the country’s long-term national development.

The ceremony also marked the completion of a stage of the programme’s second cohort, with the presentation of five strategic White Papers produced by participants of the second edition of FLBA. These documents represent 16 action learning projects focused on Timor-Leste’s national development priorities, reflecting the work carried out throughout the programme.

FLBA is a fully government-funded, 12-month programme that brings together young professionals from different sectors and municipalities across the country. In its third edition, the programme includes 120 professionals from around 100 national organisations, selected from 480 applications, underscoring the programme’s growing national recognition and prestige.

The programme includes workshops, strategic action learning projects and immersion visits to ASEAN Member States. The initiative is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation under the leadership of Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and under the day-to-day direction of Milena Rangel, Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs.

In her remarks, Vice Minister Milena Rangel stated: “As we continue advancing towards our integration into ASEAN and prepare for our ASEAN Chairship in 2029, it is vital that we further strengthen the skills, competencies, and leadership capacities that will underpin our national development and help shape our shared future”.

The ceremony also included remarks by the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, who stated: “We commit to sustaining this leadership program for our future leaders optimizing resources, expanding to ASEAN Plus partners, and elevating youth and sports as engines of prosperity. Together, we build Timor-Leste’s vibrant future.”

Since its launch in 2024, the FLBA programme has contributed to preparing young Timorese professionals to participate in ASEAN structures and initiatives, while strengthening national capacities in the context of regional integration and preparations for Timor-Leste to host the ASEAN Chairship in 2029.

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On March 5^th, 2026, in Laivai, within the municipality of Lautém, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry, Marcos da Cruz, launched a rice planting campaign using modern agricultural machinery and delivered ten power tillers to the Lautém Municipal Authority to support local farmers.

The initiative took place in Samalari hamlet, Ililai village and is part of the policy to modernise the agricultural sector and strengthen national food production. 

During the ceremony, the Minister observed that the activity involved launching mechanised rice planting using modern transplanting equipment and delivering power tillers to support agricultural work and boost productivity.

The Minister recalled that last January marked the launch of the Laivai irrigation system, which covers approximately 500 hectares. He noted that a considerable part of this land had been abandoned for several years but is now back in production due to cooperation between the ministry, municipal authorities, and local communities.

The Minister noted that Ministry technicians had rehabilitated the agricultural land and that farmers had resumed farming their productive areas, helping develop the agricultural sector in the municipality.

Minister Marcos da Cruz also highlighted that the rice currently cultivated is the local Nakroma variety, developed over several years and adapted to the country’s conditions. He added that the Ministry has been supporting producers by purchasing and distributing certified seeds, ensuring the continuation of agricultural campaigns

The Government member reaffirmed his commitment to continue supporting farmers in Lautém by working with the Municipal Authority to fully utilise the irrigated area and boost the production of rice and other food crops.

The delivery of ten power tillers aims to enhance agricultural mechanisation within the municipality, assisting farmers’ work, lowering operating costs, and reducing the time required to prepare the land.

The President of the Municipal Authority of Lautém, Melio de Jesus, expressed gratitude to the Government for its support to the municipality’s agricultural sector and mentioned that the new equipment will enhance local production capacity. He also stated that the power tillers will be distributed based on the needs identified among farmers, with priority given to producers with active cultivation areas.

National leaders from the agricultural sector, local authorities, representatives from the Timor-Leste National Police, civil servants, and farmers from the region attended the ceremony.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, accompanied the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, at the inauguration of the 21st President of the Portuguese Republic, António José Seguro, who succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The ceremony took place on March 9^th, 2026, at the Assembly of the Republic in Lisbon. 

Besides the Timorese Foreign Minister and the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, who also holds the Presidency of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), the event was attended by senior international figures, including King Felipe VI of Spain and the Presidents of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço; São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Manuel Vila Nova; Cape Verde, José Maria das Neves; and Mozambique, Daniel Chapo.

In his speech, President António José Seguro extended a “warm greeting” to President Ramos-Horta and the other Heads of State of the CPLP countries attending the ceremony, stating that their presence “symbolises the strength of the historical, cultural, and economic ties that unite our peoples and reaffirm the values of cooperation, friendship, and dialogue that we share”.

The new Portuguese Head of State also stated that “in its diversity, the Portuguese-speaking community demonstrates that a common language can also be the sharing of a greater ambition: a project of joint development and affirmation in a world that increasingly needs understanding and peace”.

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Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 6th, 2026

The Council of Ministers met in the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium at the Ministry of Finance in Dili. After analysing the information presented and considering the need to ensure the continuity of the tender process and avoid delays in the implementation of the Tasi Mane Project, specifically the SSB and the Zumalai–Natarbora Highway, the Council of Ministers decided to take note of the information presented by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, regarding the content of the letter from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, concerning the highest-ranked company for Lot 2.

It also decided to authorise the CNA to commence negotiations with the highest-ranked Chinese company for Lot 2, and to continue to follow up, monitor, and confirm the completion of the Chinese regulatory procedures necessary for the transfer of funds and the execution of projects abroad. END