On March 17th, the Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Estanislau da Silva, took part in the launch of the financial literacy programme ‘Money Minded Business Basics’ (basics of financial management), to small and micro-businesses, in Gleno, Ermera. The goal of this programme is to raise the financial knowledge of participants. They learn how to create a business, how to understand cash flow, how to prepare a budget and how to develop their own business.
The initiative is facilitated by trainers from the Institute for Business Development Support (IBDS) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste (CCI-TL). The programme also has the support of the Market Development Facility (MDF) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ).
Courses like ‘Money Minded Business Basics’ are designed to support private sector growth and encourage the development of successful small business ventures.
On the same day, the Minister Estanislau da Silva observed the collection of tilapia in fish farms in the municipalities of Liquiçá (Lisadila) and Ermera (Saré).
In 2016 the Directorate General of Fisheries identified municipalities with potential for aquaculture activity and by February this year had completed the building of 113 breeding tanks for tilapia. 
Tilapia is a freshwater fish that is fast growing and hardy, with good nutritional value, successfully farmed in countries such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines.
This initiative is part of Timor-Leste’s economic diversification strategy to reduce dependence on oil and gas revenue, create sustainable industry, improve food security and lift nutritional outcomes, especially in rural areas.