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On October 8th, 2026, in Dili, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, Marcos da Cruz, met the Ambassador of Vietnam to Timor-Leste, Pham Binh Dam, to discuss concrete areas of cooperation in the agricultural and fisheries sectors and to prepare for the first meeting of the Vietnam–Timor-Leste Joint Commission.
The meeting built on the understandings reached during Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão’s official visit to Vietnam in June this year, when the two countries agreed to promote cooperation in rice, agricultural products, and fisheries, among other sectors.
In the agricultural sector, the two sides identified opportunities for cooperation in rice and coffee production, covering varieties, cultivation techniques, equipment, and human resource training. The possibility of exploring cooperation models involving international organisations and development partners was also discussed.
In the fisheries and maritime economy sector, the two sides explored opportunities for cooperation in aquaculture, fishing, shipbuilding, fish processing, fisheries infrastructure development, and human resource training.
The meeting also addressed the use of digital technologies to monitor fishing activities and trace products, and cooperation to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Minister Marcos da Cruz expressed openness to Vietnamese companies participating in investment projects in Timor-Leste’s fisheries and processing sectors, with technology transfer and human resource training. The Minister proposed that interested companies maintain direct contact with the Ministry’s competent services to analyse the projects and their feasibility.
The two sides also discussed preparations for the first meeting of the Vietnam–Timor-Leste Joint Commission, which will be co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of both countries. This mechanism falls under the understandings reached by the two Governments to monitor the implementation of bilateral agreements and to identify new areas of cooperation.
As part of these preparations, the finalisation of the draft Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fisheries sector and the development of cooperation instruments for the agricultural sector are under review.
Timor-Leste and Vietnam will continue their technical and institutional contacts to define the priority areas, programmes, projects, and instruments for presentation within the framework of the Joint Commission.
On October 7th and 8th, 2026 in Manila, the Philippines, Timor-Leste’s Secretary of State for Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Santos Noronha, represented the country at the 44th ASEAN Energy Ministers’ Meeting (AMEM), where regional priorities for energy security, connectivity, resilience, and the energy transition were analysed.
The meeting took place under the Philippine ASEAN Chairmanship and the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030 (APAEC), which sets out the organisation’s sector priorities for the next five years.
In his address, the Secretary of State thanked the Member States’ Energy Ministers, the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), and sectoral bodies for their support for Timor-Leste’s integration into regional energy cooperation mechanisms.
In this context, Santos Noronha highlighted the recent integration of Electricity of Timor-Leste (EDTL, EP) into the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities and Authorities (HAPUA), expressing Timor-Leste’s “sincere gratitude” to HAPUA, all ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), and EDL Lao, in its capacity as HAPUA Chair, for their invaluable support and constructive guidance in facilitating the accession of Electricity of Timor-Leste (EDTL) to the HAPUA family at the 42nd HAPUA Council Meeting, held in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in September 2026.
During the ministerial meeting, Timor-Leste also endorsed accession to regional energy cooperation instruments, namely the ASEAN Petroleum Safety Agreement (APSA), the Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP).
The Secretary of State said Timor-Leste is committed to concluding the accession process to these instruments later this year, following the completion of the necessary internal procedures and the deposit of the instruments of accession.
Timor-Leste’s participation in the 44th AMEM follows its accession to ASEAN as the 11th Member State and marks its first participation in this ministerial meeting as a full member of the organisation.
The Timorese delegation also included the President of the National Petroleum Authority, Gualdino da Carmo; the Director-General for Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Maria Arlinda; and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of EDTL, EP, Marito Ferreira.
The Manila meetings also included meetings between ASEAN officials and external partners, international organisations, and specialised energy sector bodies, as well as the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2026. Discussions covered, among other topics, the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid, energy security, investment, renewable energy, and the strengthening of regional cooperation in the energy sector.
On October 2nd, 2026, in Lisbon, Vice-Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion Céu Brites met with Portugal’s Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion, Clara Marques Mendes, to discuss policies and programmes for people with disabilities.
During the meeting, the two officials discussed support for independent living, data systems for people with disabilities, and the human resources required to deliver that support.
Vice-Minister Céu Brites highlighted improving data systems and developing human resources as key priorities for strengthening policies and services for people with disabilities.
Secretary of State Clara Marques Mendes presented Portugal’s experience in supporting independent living for people with disabilities. In this context, the Vice-Minister shared Timor-Leste’s experience through programmes that support self-sustaining economic activities, aimed at contributing to the economic independence of people with disabilities.
Following the meeting with the Secretary of State, the Vice-Minister and the Timorese delegation attended a technical meeting with Portuguese officials responsible for the rights of people with disabilities, during which programmes developed in Portugal to protect these rights were presented.
Timor-Leste has in place the National Action Plan for People with Disabilities 2021–2030, approved by Government Resolution No. 7/2022 of March 1st, which sets out the national framework for action in this area.