Government of Timor-Leste

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, June 3rd, 2016

Investment Conference to highlight opportunities & role of TradeInvest Timor-Leste

The Timor-Leste International Investment Conference begins this Sunday evening and continues through Monday and Tuesday with a packed program intended to showcase Timor-Leste’s potential across a range of industries. The Government of Timor-Leste and convention organizers Informa have been working together to ensure high-level representation and the Government’s Investment and Export Promotion Agency TradeInvest Timor-Leste has been facilitating the involvement of Timor-Leste companies, agencies and investors. Visiting investors and potential business partners have travelled from around the globe for this private Conference with a high proportion of registered delegates from Australia and the ASEAN countries.

Minister for Planning and Strategic Investment, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão will address delegates at a Welcome Reception on Sunday night and Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo is scheduled to officially open the conference at 9:00 on Monday morning. The Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, H.E. Estanislau da Silva, will give the final keynote address on Tuesday afternoon.

Other Timorese contributors include the Executive Director of TradeInvest Timor-Leste, Arcanjo da Silva, the President and CEO of TimorGAP, Directors from the National Authority of Petroleum and Minerals [ANPM], and the President of the Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Mari Alkatiri, President of the Special Zones of Social Market Economy will give a special presentation on the Oecussi Special Zone of Social Market Economy.

Visiting presenters include the Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Government, the Hon Peter Styles MLA, Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Peter Doyle, and a host of business leaders and organizations including the ANZ Bank, Asian Development Bank, AICEP-Portugal, ANL Container Line, the Australian Timor-Leste Business Council, the Bollore Group, ConocoPhillips, EY Portugal, the International Finance Corporation, SDV, USAID and World Fish.

Established and emerging investment success stories will also be a feature with presentations from TL Cement, Heineken Asia Pacific and Jape Group International.

Petroleum Developments and the Potential for Mineral Exploration in Timor-Leste, the Outlook for Timor-Leste Investment, Industry Perspectives and Project Updates, Taking Part in Timor-Leste’s Emerging Markets, Delivering Quality Infrastructure, and Finance and Investment Sectors are some of the areas to be covered.

Facilitators, TradeInvest Timor-Leste look forward to the Conference as a making a contribution towards its goal of promoting and facilitating investment and export. The agency is a “one-stop-service” for local and foreign investors and exporters and is responsible for the administrative procedures that are involved in granting Investment Certificates, Exporter Certificates and Special Investment Agreements. There are significant incentives available to qualifying investors that can include exemption from taxes and duties, and guarantees to ensure the best possible investment environment.

International media will cover the event and further spread the news of Timor-Leste’s investment opportunities.

Spokesperson for the Sixth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “International investment and business partnership are a key part of growing a diversified and sustainable economy in Timor-Leste. The Government through its economic reform package and through agencies such as TradeInvest Timor-Leste is on a mission to optimize the business environment and showcase the opportunities available in our nation for national and international and business people. The Government congratulates Informa and TradeInvest Timor-Leste for their efforts to facilitate this International Investment Conference.”