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On October 15^th, 2025, Timor-Leste participated in the formal and informal sessions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), held in Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting marked the 100^th formal meeting of the Committee since the adoption of the first WTO GPA in 1994.

 During the session, Ambassador António da Conceição, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the WTO, presented the progress made by Timor-Leste in the process of acceding to the Agreement on Government Procurement, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to adopting international standards of transparency, efficiency, and good governance in public procurement. 

 In his speech, the Ambassador highlighted that, since the last official communication to the Committee in September 2025, the development partners to implement various technical capacity-building actions aimed at officials from key ministers and institutions.

These initiatives have been instrumental in strengthening institutional understanding of the GPA framework and providing national technical teams with the tools and methodologies necessary to prepare Timor-Leste’s Market Access Offer.

The Government is currently in the final stages of approving the formal creation of the Technical Working Group on GPA Accession, an interministerial body that will serve as a formal mechanism for coordination and internal consultation in the process of preparing the Market Access Offer. Once its creation has been formalized, the Working Group will begin its operational activities.

According to the defined timeline, Timor-Leste plans to complete the formal establishment of the Technical Working Group by the end of 2025 and submit this Marker Access Offer during the first half of 2026.

The Government considers accession to the GPA an important component of its broader strategy for integration into the international trading system, reinforcing the national commitment to transparency, good governance, and economic competitiveness.

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The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, representing the Prime Minister, participated in the ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Balibó Five and the celebration of National Press Freedom Day, held today, October 16th, 2025, in Balibó, in the municipality of Bobonaro. 

The event, held in collaboration between the Government of Timor-Leste, the Press Council, and the Balibó House Trust Foundation, featured speeches by Minister Agio Pereira, Steve Bracks, Patron of the Balibó House Trust, the Ambassadors of New Zealand and Australia to Timor-Leste, Helen Tunnah and Caitlin Wilson, respectively, the President of the Press Council, Antonio Moniz Mali, and the President of the Bobonaro Municipal Authority, Paulo Moniz Maia. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, Timorese and international journalists, local authorities, relatives of the victims, and members of the community. The program includes traditional welcome ceremonies, moments of reflection and tribute, a mass in memory of the victims, journalism awards, and various cultural and community activities.

The celebrations continued throughout last week, including the launch of Balibo 5 Community Radio, a seminar entitled “National Reflection on the Role of the Media in Resistance and National Development”, a fair on the theme of “Freedom”, as well as cultural presentations and other initiatives open to the community.

In his speech, Minister Agio Pereira evoked the legacy of the five Australian journalists — Greg Shackleton, Tony Stewart, Brian Peters, Malcolm Rennie and Gary Cunningham — killed in Balibo on October 16^th, 1975, and Roger East, executed in Dili weeks later. He emphasised that “fifty years ago, five young journalists in Balibo, and one in Dili, stood between silence and the world. They chose truth and paid with their lives. Today, we remember them not as distant figures, but as echoes of our responsibility — we must speak out, demand, act”. 

The Minister also emphasised that the deaths of the “Balibo Five” and Roger East “are not mere footnotes in history”, as “they remain wounds on our conscience”, recalling the collective duty to preserve memory and ensure that the truth is never again silenced. “The legacy of the Five of Balibó is inseparable from the history of Timor-Leste — from its struggle for independence, from the regional politics that shaped its destiny, and from the international search for truth amid violence and denial,” he stated.

Agio Pereira concluded his speech by calling for ‘this 50th anniversary not to be a mere ceremony, but rather a renewal: of memory, of commitment and of determination to honour those who died, ensuring that no voice for truth is silenced again’.

During the ceremony, flower wreaths will be laid at the Flag House, where the journalists were killed, followed by a candlelight vigil, a mass presided over by the Bishop of Maliana, and the screening of a commemorative video about the 50th anniversary of the tragedy. The Timor-Leste Press Council and the Balibó House Trust Foundation will also present the annual journalism awards, in honour of the commitment to truth, justice and freedom of expression.

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Click here to read the full speech by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira.

 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts that Timor-Leste’s “economy is expected to maintain solid momentum,” “supported by strong domestic demand” and “by a low-inflation environment,” according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO), released on September 30^th, 2025.

The report projects economic growth of 3.8% in 2025 and 3.4% in 2026, reflecting the positive performance recorded in 2024, when the country achieved higher-than-expected preliminary growth of 4.1%. According to the ADB, “Timor-Leste’s near-term economic outlook remains stable, supported by strong domestic demand”.

The organization highlights that “Improved budget execution, sustained credit growth in the banking sector, and steady remittance inflows will continue to underpin economic growth, supported by a low-inflation environment”. “Inflation is projected to remain low, averaging 1.2% in 2025 and 1.9% in 2026, revised down from previous estimates of 2.9% and 2.6% respectively, due to easing food prices and subdued price pressures on goods and services”.

Stefania Dina, the Director of ADB for Timor-Leste, states that “Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN in October 2025 will mark a significant milestone that will strengthen confidence and drive sustainable, long-term economic growth by unlocking new opportunities in trade, investment, and private sector development”.

The outlook presented by the ADB, although slightly lower, is in line with the projections of the Government of Timor-Leste, which, in its General State Budget Proposal for 2026, currently under consideration by the National Parliament, estimates non-oil GDP growth of 4.5% in 2025 and 2026. 

According to government forecasts, growth will be driven by continued expansion in the private sector, improved execution of public spending and stronger household consumption, associated with higher public spending on goods and services, better execution of investments and stimulation of the private sector, reinforced by Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN and expanded access to credit.

The budget proposal, under the theme ‘Investing in National Transformation, Regional Integration and Inclusive Development” presents a total consolidated budget of US$2.291 billion for 2026.

Both the ADB and the Government’s forecasts thus point to a stable and sustainable growth trajectory, underpinned by prudent public finance management, economic recovery and regional integration, factors that should boost confidence and open new development opportunities for Timor-Leste.

After approval by the Council of Ministers, at the extraordinary meeting of September 30, 2025, and submission to the National Parliament on October 1st, 2025, the General State Budget (OGE) for 2026 now goes to parliament for consideration, according to the following calendar:

● October 16 and 17: Commission C Seminar about “Panorama Orsamentu 2026”.

● October 17, 20 to 24: Public hearings;

● November 5-7: Debate and vote on the general terms;

● November 10 to 24: Debate and voting on the specialty and final global vote;

● November 25: Decree sent to the President of the Republic for promulgation.

Under the theme “Investing in National Transformation, Regional Integration and Inclusive Development”, the budget proposal, with a consolidated global amount of US$2.291 billion, was formulated based on the strategic objectives of the 9th Constitutional Government, which aim to:

● Promote sustainable socioeconomic development;

● Reinforce investment in strategic infrastructure;

● Consolidate the strengthening of the economic sector;

● Improve the well-being of citizens.

The 2026 General State Budget reflects the Government’s commitment to driving sustainable and inclusive growth, capable of generating benefits for all citizens of Timor-Leste.

Balibó Fifty Years On: Remembering the Balibo Five and Roger East Balibó, 16 October 2025

The 14th edition of the “Página do Governo” program features the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco Monteiro, who discusses the Government’s strategic vision for the sustainable development of the oil and mineral resources sector, the progress of negotiations on Greater Sunrise, the implementation of the Tasi Mane project, and plans for economic diversification through industrialization and mining. 

The Minister explains that “the overall vision for this sector was defined by the 9th Constitutional Government” and is in line with “what was already defined in the 2011-2030 National Strategic Development Plan.” He also emphasizes that the goal is to transform “activities that were essentially extractive into a new phase of industrialization for our country,” in order to “contribute to job creation and achieve greater socioeconomic impacts.”

Regarding the Greater Sunrise project, Francisco Monteiro states that “technical, commercial, and legal negotiations” are taking place simultaneously, with Timor-Leste, Australia, and the consortium companies—Woodside, Timor GAP, and Osaka Gas—working together to “finalize the legal and contractual framework that will enable the development of the field.” He adds that the conceptual study, completed in November last year, shows that “the construction of the gas pipeline and LNG plant in Natarbora is not only technically feasible but also commercially very advantageous for all stakeholders.”

Regarding the Tasi Mane project, the minister emphasizes that its implementation is an essential part of the “overall vision for the industrialization of this sector,” serving as a ‘facilitator’ to “encourage investors.”

When asked about the existing challenges, the Minister acknowledges that there are limitations but assures that “it is not a challenge that has no limits or that we cannot overcome.” With regard to the lack of human resources in the sector, Francisco Monteiro states that a “very comprehensive plan is being drawn up, not only to prepare the young people and technical engineers involved in the construction process over the next five or six years, but also for after the construction phase, so that we have human resources prepared for the operation and maintenance phase.”

With regard to Bayu-Undan, the minister reveals that the Ministry, together with its partners, is working “to see how we can continue to exploit the reserves or resources that still exist and are still of considerable size.” “Compared to production already achieved, there is still about a third left to be explored,” he said, noting that the potential includes the Chudditch field and others, as well as ongoing talks for the Carbon Capture and Storage project in Bayu-Undan.

Francisco Monteiro also highlights the intensification of prospecting and exploration for minerals such as manganese, copper, limestone, and gold in several municipalities across the country, emphasizing that “these activities have strong potential to create jobs and contribute to state revenue.”

The Minister also mentions the agreement signed in February between ENI and Timor GAP for the exploration of a new block located between Greater Sunrise and Bayu-Undan, as well as the development of the Kuda-Tasi Zahal field, with production expected to start in 2027–2028.

From a long-term perspective, Francisco Monteiro states that the oil and minerals sector will continue to make an important contribution to national economic development and emphasizes that the “major industrialization efforts currently underway will enable the oil and minerals sectors to continue to contribute positively through job creation, economic benefits, and sources of income for the state, which will continue to be significant over the next 10 to 20 years.”

The “Página do Governo” program is an initiative of the Office of the Government Spokesperson, led by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, in partnership with RTTL, the national media, and digital platforms. Its goal is to strengthen government transparency and ensure the population’s access to information about the Executive’s main actions and decisions. Nélia Chaves is the presenter, and Ika Moniz is the executive producer. Technical support is provided by the communications teams of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the office of the interviewed member of the Government.

Government Spokesperson, Minister Agio Pereira, reaffirms that the “Página do Governo” program is an important tool for promoting accountability and dialogue between the Executive Branch and citizens.

The Government invites the entire population to follow this edition of “Página do Governo” (Government Page), to be broadcast on Friday, October 17^th, at 8:00 p.m., on RTTL and on social media, reinforcing its commitment to building a more informed, participatory society committed to national development.

▶️ Click here to watch all episodes on Youtube
“Página do Governo”

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 15th 2025

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Approved:

✅ 1 – Proposal for approval to Ratify the CPLP Statutes;

✅ 2 – Proposal to ratify the Agreement between Timor-Leste and Angola on visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports;

✅ 3 – Agreement between the Governments of Timor-Leste and Laos on the Exchange of Rights to Use Land and Buildings of Diplomatic Missions;

✅ 4 – Criteria for designating and ensuring continuity of Timor-Leste’s focal points for ASEAN;

✅ 5 – Full powers to the Minister of Justice to sign the ASEAN Extradition Treaty; and

✅ 6 – Authorisation to negotiate with the ADB the Loan Agreement, with a grant component, for the National Road Improvement Project – Phase I.

 

Analysed:

➡️ 1 – Presentation on Timor-Leste’s post-accession to ASEAN plan.

9 am, Government Palace

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

9th Government: Commitment to Structural Reforms and Enhancing the Rule of Law for Sustainable Economic Growth

Since assuming office, the 9th Constitutional Government, led by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, has been dedicated to governance grounded in transparency, accountability, and sound public management. Its goal is to guide the country through a process of structural transformation following years of economic stagnation and declining public investment. The Executive has prioritised restoring the principles of good governance, addressing irregularities inherited from earlier administrations, and rebuilding the financial and administrative management systems that had been compromised.

With a vision centred on institutional consolidation and the strengthening of democratic rule of law, the Government has promoted reforms across all key sectors of national development. These reforms aim to enhance public institutions, reinforce state finances and justice, modernise public administration, revitalise public investment, and restore citizens’ trust in state institutions. The government’s actions have resulted in a policy of correction, reconstruction, and planning, focused on delivering concrete, sustainable results.

A comprehensive reform of public administration is underway, which, alongside the audits conducted, aims to enhance integrity, efficiency, meritocracy, and accountability, ensuring that the State serves citizens with proximity and transparency. At the same time, the Executive has been promoting the modernisation of infrastructure through strategic road rehabilitation projects, the expansion of the electricity grid, and improvements in water supply and drainage conditions, in line with an administrative decentralisation plan that seeks to strengthen the autonomy and management capacity of municipalities. These actions form part of a vision for balanced development that strives to unite the territory and create opportunities across all regions of the country.

On the economic front, the Government is working to diversify and revitalise the productive sector, with initiatives aimed at attracting foreign investment and developing the domestic private sector to reduce reliance on oil and strengthen the private sector’s role in the economy. The promotion of domestic and foreign investment, integration into regional markets, and preparation for full ASEAN membership mark a new phase of economic modernisation and strategic integration of Timor-Leste into regional and global arenas.

Investment in human capital and social welfare has also remained a priority. The government has been working to improve education quality by strengthening teacher skills and recruitment systems, revising curricula, and upgrading school infrastructure. In the health sector, measures have been introduced to expand access to public services and enhance social protection for vulnerable families. These initiatives, along with the recognition of national liberation fighters and the promotion of gender equality, reflect the belief that sustainable development can only be achieved through social justice and inclusion.

With the same determination that drives major structural reforms, the Government has demonstrated courage and speed in responding to emerging challenges, acting decisively whenever the integrity of democratic rule of law demands it. This stance reflects responsible governance, which tackles problems with transparency and resolve, ensuring that public interest and legality take precedence over all other interests. The strengthening of institutions, administrative discipline, and respect for the law are essential pillars of this approach, aiming to protect the state and reinforce citizens’ trust in their institutions. Integrity, understood as a moral principle and a tool for effectiveness, also underpins the Government’s credibility with international partners and the trust of the Timorese people in their institutions.

The results of this effort are already evident. Ongoing structural reforms, the revival of public investment, and the restoration of international confidence have led to a return to economic growth, as recognised by international financial institutions. This progress reflects the impact of leadership that combines experience, strategic vision, and commitment to the national interest.

Recently, the International Monetary Fund highlighted “the remarkable progress achieved since independence” and welcomed “Timor-Leste’s efforts towards greater regional and global economic integration through accession to the World Trade Organization and future membership of ASEAN—initiatives that will boost growth and reinforce the Government’s reform agenda.” The IMF also praised “the progress made in the financial sector reforms promoted by the Government (…) whose implementation will favour the development of the private sector.”

The 9th Government has shown that it is possible to govern with integrity, addressing past issues and tackling present challenges to prepare for the future. It does so with courage and determination through policies that combine strict management of public resources with the ambition to create a modern, prosperous, and morally upright nation.

As the Prime Minister himself stated in his presentation of the Government Programme, this is a shared responsibility of an entire “qualified and experienced Executive, which wants to restore the rules of good governance, transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness, so that we can ALL aspire to the Timor-Leste we dreamed of during the difficult years of struggle.”

In his inauguration speech, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão stated that government practice would be “guided by the principles of good governance, inclusion, and the principle that everyone must obey the law,” also recognising, in the presentation of the Government Programme, that “the road ahead is full of challenges. Challenges that we must face responsibly. This is a programme that requires a great deal of determination, perseverance, and honesty, because sometimes it is easier to start over than to correct processes and systems, vices, and ingrained habits. But only in this way can we get back on the right path to progress.

On the eve of full ASEAN membership, Timor-Leste presents itself as a stable country in transition, with institutions strengthening and the Government leading development responsibly and consistently. Under Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão’s leadership, the country is on the path to progress once more, reaffirming the values that underpinned its independence: dignity, courage, and a commitment to truth and the common good. END