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On October 16th, 2026, the Minister of Health, Élia A. A. dos Reis Amaral, inaugurated the new Ariana Health Clinic in the village (suco) of Uato-Haco, Venilale Administrative Post, Baucau Municipality, to bring healthcare closer to local communities, particularly those living farthest from health facilities.
The new infrastructure comprises a health clinic equipped with medical and non-medical supplies, alongside a residence for health professionals, ensuring their continued presence in the area of intervention and facilitating the provision of care to the population.
The Ariana Health Clinic is staffed by nine health professionals and is expected to provide care to the local population, including follow-up for children, pregnant women, and the elderly, as well as to develop integrated and community-based health outreach activities.
The opening of this facility aligns with the objectives set out in the 9th Constitutional Government’s Programme for primary health care, which aims to expand access to health services—particularly in remote areas—and sets a target for sucos with populations of 1,500 to 2,000 residents to have access to a health clinic offering a comprehensive range of services.
During the ceremony, the Minister of Health called on the professionals assigned to the new unit to ensure high-quality care for the population and to carry out community initiatives, including support for individuals facing the greatest difficulties in travelling to the health clinic.
The Minister also asked community authorities to inform and advise residents to seek medical assistance early in the illness, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment.
The President of the Baucau Municipal Authority, Veneranda Eurico Lemos Martins, highlighted the reduced distance local residents now have to travel for healthcare and urged the community to help preserve the new facilities.
The Minister of Health further noted the country’s recent progress in preventing and eliminating communicable diseases. In July 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified Timor-Leste as a malaria-free country, following the interruption of indigenous transmission for at least three consecutive years. In September 2026, the WHO also validated the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in the country.
On preventing non-communicable diseases, the Minister encouraged the population to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, including regular physical activity.
The Government, through the Ministry of Health, plans to continue improving health infrastructure in Baucau Municipality by opening additional health units and rehabilitating the Riamari Maternity Hospital. Announced interventions include the health clinics in Uacala and Baguia, and the Baucau Vila Health Centre.
The President of the Baucau Municipal Authority, representatives of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Ministry of Health officials, local authorities, religious leaders, health professionals, students, and community members attended the ceremony.
On October 16th, 2026, at the Dili Convention Centre, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão took part in celebrations marking the 4th National Press Freedom Day, reaffirming the 9th Constitutional Government’s commitment to press and expression freedoms while highlighting responsibility, professional ethics, and fact-checking as core principles of journalism.
This year’s celebrations, held under the theme “Mídia Livre, Demokrasia Metin” (Free Press, Strong Democracy), were organised with the participation of the Secretariat of State for Social Communication, the Press Council, and journalists’ associations. They featured exhibitions, debates, the Freedom March, and the presentation of the National Journalism Awards.
In his remarks, the Head of Government emphasised the media’s role in informing citizens, monitoring public institutions, and contributing to democratic life.
“The Government must accept questions and fact-based criticism. Constructive criticism can help the Government improve its work and respond to the population’s needs. At the same time, journalists must verify information, uphold professional ethics, and report the news with rigour,” stated the Prime Minister.
Xanana Gusmão also addressed the transformations brought by digital technologies, social media, and Artificial Intelligence in how information is gathered and shared. While these technologies create new opportunities for research and data analysis, they also heighten the risk of fake news, manipulated videos, and AI-generated content designed to mislead the public.
“Therefore, journalists should not prioritise speed alone but give precedence to credibility and responsibility,” he said.
The Prime Minister argued that while Artificial Intelligence can support journalism, it cannot replace fact-checking or professional judgement. He further emphasised the need for cooperation among the Government, the Secretariat of State for Social Communication, the Press Council, media outlets, journalists’ organisations, educational institutions, and civil society to combat disinformation.
In this regard, he emphasised public institutions’ responsibility to provide official information clearly and promptly, ensuring that efforts to combat disinformation do not restrict freedom of expression or criticism of government action.
“Public institutions must ensure clear and prompt access to official information. However, combating fake news does not mean silencing people or limiting criticism of the Government,” he stated.
During the event, the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Loro Dias Ximenes, also highlighted the relationship between freedom and responsibility in journalism, advocating the ethical and responsible use of new technologies by media professionals.
The commemorative programme began on October 15th with the opening of the Freedom Fair, which showcased photographs and documentation of the work and contributions of former journalists and media professionals during the national liberation struggle. On October 16th, activities included panel discussions on journalist safety and the challenges of Artificial Intelligence, a Mass at Motael Church, a tribute to deceased journalists, the Freedom March, and the presentation of the National Journalism Awards.
National Press Freedom Day was established by the National Parliament in 2022 and is observed annually on October 16th, commemorating the five journalists (Greg Shackleton, Tony Stewart, Gary Cunningham, Brian Peters, and Malcolm Rennie) killed in Balibo on October 16th, 1975.
This year’s commemorations thus marked the 4th National Press Freedom Day and the 51st anniversary of the deaths of the five Balibo journalists.
On October 15th, 2026, the Government of Timor-Leste met in Jakarta with Indonesia’s Minister of Investment and Industrial Development, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, who also serves as Executive Head of the investment management agency Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara). The meeting aimed to assess progress on the expansion project at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport and to strengthen coordination with Indonesia to accelerate work by the Indonesian state-owned enterprise Waskita Karya, with a view to completion by 2028.
The Timorese delegation was led by Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment, accompanied by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, and the Vice-Minister of Commerce and Industry, Augusto Júnior Trindade.
During the meeting, the Timorese Government expressed concern about the pace of work on the ground and requested support from the Indonesian authorities to accelerate construction. Rosan Perkasa Roeslani indicated Indonesia’s readiness to support Waskita Karya in meeting the established schedule.
Danantara is the Indonesian state agency responsible for managing state investments and equity stakes in public enterprises. Waskita Karya is part of this corporate structure through PT Danantara Asset Management, which holds a majority stake in Waskita Karya. This institutional relationship formed the basis for the Government of Timor-Leste’s approach to Danantara to strengthen oversight of the project’s execution.
The meeting continued the Government’s ongoing monitoring of the project. In August this year, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay and Miguel Manetelu met in Dili with representatives of Waskita Karya, the Administration of Airports and Air Navigation of Timor-Leste (ANATL, E.P.), and the project management team to assess construction progress and execution challenges.
Waskita Karya is responsible for the runway expansion and the construction of associated airport infrastructure under a design-and-build contract valued at approximately US$72.5 million, as part of a project supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The interventions are part of the broader development and modernisation programme for Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, which encompasses various components supported by development partners, including the construction of a new passenger terminal.
The project aims to expand capacity and improve operational conditions at the country’s main international airport, amid growing air connectivity and Timor-Leste’s ongoing preparations to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029.
The Government will continue to monitor the implementation of the project’s various components and coordinate with the partners involved to ensure adherence to their respective implementation schedules.
On October 15th, 2026, in Jakarta, the Governments of Timor-Leste and Indonesia signed a Bilateral Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments, establishing a framework to promote, facilitate, and protect investment between the two countries.
The Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, and Indonesia’s Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, signed the agreement.
The signing fulfils a commitment made by the two Governments in 2023. Formal negotiations began in November 2024, and the legal review of the text was completed in August 2025.
At its October 7th, 2026, meeting, the Council of Ministers reviewed the agreement, which aims to create more favourable conditions for investment between the two countries by establishing a framework for investment protection and treatment, streamlining procedures, and providing mechanisms for resolving potential disputes.
The agreement rests on three main pillars: promotion to foster a favourable investment environment; facilitation through greater transparency, procedural efficiency, and inter-party cooperation; and protection through rules governing investment treatment and legal certainty.
The instrument also provides for the exchange of information on investment opportunities and for strengthening ties between the private sectors of both nations. Key sectors identified for further cooperation include manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, and digital technologies.
Indonesia is Timor-Leste’s primary trading partner among ASEAN Member States. In 2025, bilateral trade reached US$423.63 million, accounting for approximately US$273.86 million.
The signing took place during the Timorese delegation’s visit to Indonesia for the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia, held from October 14th to 18th. On the sidelines of the event, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay met Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, to discuss diversifying bilateral trade, expanding market access, and cooperation between business operators from both countries.
The Vice-Minister of Commerce and Industry, Augusto Júnior Trindade, also met Indonesia’s Vice-Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti, to discuss opportunities to increase trade flows and promote products from both nations, including Timorese coffee and cloves.
The signing ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu; the Vice-Minister of Commerce and Industry, Augusto Júnior Trindade; and the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to ASEAN.
The agreement establishes a new bilateral framework to promote, facilitate, and protect investment, and to develop economic cooperation between Timor-Leste and Indonesia.
The Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, participated in the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) 2026 and the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity in Singapore from October 12th to 15th, 2026. During these events, he discussed strengthening regional cybersecurity cooperation and held a bilateral meeting with Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo.
The 11th edition of the Singapore International Cyber Week, organised by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, brought together ministers, government officials, representatives of international organisations, experts, and private-sector representatives to discuss current and emerging cybersecurity challenges and to strengthen international cooperation in this area.
This year’s edition addressed, among other topics, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, the protection of critical infrastructure, cyber incident response, the development of specialised human resources, and international cooperation to strengthen digital resilience.
As part of the SICW, Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu participated in the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity on October 14th, which brought together representatives of ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat to examine regional cybersecurity challenges and strengthen cooperation and capacity to respond to cyber threats.
The Conference welcomed the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2026–2030 and addressed issues such as the protection of critical infrastructure, combating ransomware and online scams, risks associated with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, information sharing, and the strengthening of national and regional incident response capabilities.
In this context, Singapore announced an additional SG$30 million investment over the next five years to strengthen regional capabilities through the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence. The support covers areas including cyber incident response, critical infrastructure protection, artificial intelligence-related risks, and cyber diplomacy. Since its establishment in 2019, the Centre’s programmes have reached more than 2,200 participants from ASEAN, Pacific Island countries, and other regions.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu met with Minister Josephine Teo in a bilateral meeting on October 13th. The meeting focused on cooperation between Timor-Leste and Singapore in digital transformation and cybersecurity, including human resource capacity development.
During the meeting, Josephine Teo expressed Singapore’s willingness to continue sharing its experience in digital transformation and to support capacity building for Timorese technical personnel, particularly in digitalisation and cybersecurity.
Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu highlighted Singapore’s experience in these areas and noted that Timor-Leste could benefit from Singapore’s knowledge and solutions, adapted to national realities, existing capacities, and available resources.
The Singapore International Cyber Week 2026 also served as a platform for launching Singapore’s Cybersecurity Strategy 2026, which sets out measures to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure and the digital ecosystem, prepare responses to risks associated with artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, and develop specialised human resources.
On October 13th, 2026, in Lisbon, the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, met with Manuel Dias, President of the Board of Directors of the Agency for State Technological Reform (ARTE – acronym in Portuguese), to define priorities and next steps for cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal on administrative streamlining and modernisation.
The meeting followed up on the cooperation protocol signed in Lisbon on June 29th, 2026, by the Minister of State Administration and Portugal’s Minister Adjunct and for State Reform, Gonçalo Matias. The agreement covers the modernisation of public services, digital transformation, and improvements to the efficiency and accessibility of services provided to citizens.
During the meeting, both parties reviewed priority activities to be carried out by the Directorate-General for the Simplification and Modernisation of Local Administration of the Ministry of State Administration and by ARTE, together with the corresponding implementation schedule.
Cooperation in this area supports the implementation of One-Stop Service Centres in Timor-Leste. Since May 2024, the Government has established 14 One-Stop Service Centres across the country, which have handled 81,368 service requests up to August 2026. These centres bring together various public services at a single point of service, reducing travel, costs, and the time required to access services.
The next phase of this process provides for the progressive integration of new public services into the One-Stop Service Centres and for the development of the service channels outlined in the model, including digital services, telephone support, and Mobile One-Stop Service Centres.
In this context, the Timorese delegation has scheduled a visit to a Citizen Shop (Loja do Cidadão) in Portugal to learn from Portugal’s experience in consolidating and integrating public services, operating service spaces, and ensuring interoperability across entities and systems. This experience will contribute to developing the One-Stop Service Centre network and to preparing the future Centre for Administrative Modernisation under the Ministry of State Administration.
During the meeting, it was also agreed that a technical team from ARTE would travel to Timor-Leste in the fourth quarter of 2026 to monitor the work carried out by the Ministry of State Administration and to continue preparations for the actions set out in the cooperation protocol.
Representatives of the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Portugal and technical teams from the Ministry of State Administration and ARTE also attended the meeting.
Both institutions will maintain technical coordination to implement the activities set out in the cooperation protocol.
On October 13th, 2026, at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace in Dili, the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, convened and presided over an inter-institutional coordination meeting to prepare for the visits of five international leaders scheduled for November and for the celebrations marking the 51st anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence on November 28th.
Members of the Government, representatives of government agencies, and officials from institutions involved in organising the commemorations and official visits, including representatives from foreign affairs, defence, interior, state administration, finance, and petroleum and mineral resources, as well as the defence and security forces, the Central Bank of Timor-Leste (BCTL), and other national entities, attended the meeting.
In November, Timor-Leste will welcome Prince Albert II of Monaco, who is scheduled to arrive on November 24th, alongside the Prime Ministers of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka; Papua New Guinea, James Marape; Vanuatu, Jotham Napat; and the Solomon Islands, Matthew Wale. The five leaders are expected to participate in the celebrations marking the Proclamation of Independence on November 28th.
The meeting coordinated institutional, logistical, protocol, and security preparations for the visits and commemorations. The national organising committee received guidance to accelerate efforts across the institutions involved.
Pacific leaders’ participation in the November 28th commemorations supports efforts to strengthen Timor-Leste’s relations with regional countries, highlighting bonds of friendship and solidarity and recalling their contributions to peace and stability in Timor-Leste, including through participation in international missions in the country.
Topics scheduled for discussion during the visits include sustainable development and ocean conservation within bilateral relations with Monaco. The management of Timor-Leste’s Petroleum Fund is also expected to feature on the agenda for meetings with Pacific leaders.
The institutions involved will continue to coordinate preparations for these international visits and for the celebrations marking the 51st anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence.
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