Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Dili, April 8th, 2016
Boosting Growth through the Growth Triangle
A trilateral meeting of the Timor-Leste-Indonesia-Australia Growth Triangle [TIA-GT] has advanced initiatives already in motion to promote and foster economic growth through integrated development within the sub-region of Eastern Indonesia, Northern Australia and Timor-Leste.
At the meeting held in Dili last Wednesday, the 30th of March, Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, H.E. Estanislau da Silva welcomed the visiting delegations from Australia and Indonesia and expressed confidence that the TIA-GT would “strongly contribute towards promoting economic, social and cultural development” as it prioritized “attracting valuable investment, promoting the development of manufacturing industries, enhancing human capital and strengthening the friendship and cooperation ties between the three countries.”
Timor-Leste’s Head of Mission Unit and State Representative, Mr. Joao M Gonçalves, reported that the meeting was a success and had moved the initiative forward by discussing steps to improve connectivity through air, sea and land transportation and looking into new paths for tourism in the sub-region. Presentations included an update on developments in Timor-Leste’s marine and air services and a report on the investigation of a ‘tourism path’ between Bali and Darwin exploring the islands of Flores and Timor.
The meeting also established three working groups on Trade and Investment, Connectivity and Tourism to further consider key issues raised. In previous TIA-GT meetings areas such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, manufacturing and education have been identified as beneficiaries of integrated sub-regional development.
Spokesperson for the Sixth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “Timor-Leste, Northern Australia and Eastern Indonesia are all set to benefit by working together to develop the economic potential of our sub-region. The TIA-GT provides a vehicle to shape and encourage this development, expanding equal partnership and sharing mutual benefits. The Government commends the work of the Mission Unit in Timor-Leste and the enthusiastic engagement of the visiting delegations.”