Prime Minister returns from first working visit abroad
Prime Minister
Seventh Constitutional Government
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Dili, November 6, 2017
Prime Minister returns from first working visit abroad
The Prime Minister, Marí Alkatiri, and his delegation returned from Perth, Australia, after the first working visit of the Head of the Seventh Constitutional Government abroad, which took place from 2 to 5 November.
At the invitation of the Australian Government, Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri attended the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference, where the Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, the President of Germany, Frank Steinmeier, and important regional representatives and German and Australian investors also attended. The President of Germany and the Prime Minister of Australia were the keynote speakers at the conference.
Prime Minister Marí Alkatiri spoke on the potential for investment in Timor-Leste, in the Gas, Oil and Mineral sectors, noting that the Government intends to diversify the economy, through an increased investment in Tourism, Agriculture and Fisheries, thereby increasing employment quality and well-being of the Timorese.
Parallel to the conference, the Head of Government met with his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull, to discuss the bilateral relationship between the two countries, focusing on the positive development of the negotiation of the maritime boundary delimitation, and also the donation of two ships, from Australia to Timor-Leste, to strengthen the country's patrolling capacity, particularly in the south coast. "With the expansion of the maritime border, we have to increase capacity to defend our resources, especially fisheries," the Prime Minister highlighted after visiting the company that built the two ships. Australia has also committed to provide support in human resourcetraining and ensure the ships’complete maintenance over the next 30 years.
Marí Alkatiri considered that "the meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was successful and marks a new trust being established between the two countries, with the agreement to delimit the maritime boundary and exploitation of natural resources."
The Head of the Timorese Government also held meetings with representatives of the companies Woodside and ConocoPhilips, to explore possibilities for investment in the resources of the Timor Sea, namely in the transportation, refining and fuel distribution industry, and development of the Greater Sunrise exploration and production.
"In these two meetings I have reaffirmed my total confidence in our chief negotiator, Xanana Gusmão, and all his team. This is a matter of national interest, and the State is built together, in a continuous process", stated Marí Alkatiri.
The program of the Prime Minister's visit ended with a working dinner with the Minister of Finance, Senator Mathias Cormann, with the Executive Director of the Kleber company and TL Cement. The investment potential in Timor-Leste was one of the main issues addressed. Senator Cormann expressed interest in visiting Timor-Leste soon, to better understand the sectors and areas in which the Government intends to invest.
The Prime Minister’sdelegation included the Minister of State and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Estanislau da Silva, the Minister of State and Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister, Agio Pereira, the Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia, Abel Guterres, and the Chief of Cabinet and Diplomatic Advisor, Nelson Santos. ENDS
