On May 23, 2019, Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak led at the Government Palace in Dili and with the presence of the Minister of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, a meeting with a team of experts from DLA Piper. The purpose of this meeting was to evaluate the most appropriate short-term, medium-term and long-term air links and strategic options available to the Government in order to ensure air transport and to avoid the isolation imposed by the competitive market of the airline industry.

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers in over 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific and with clients around the world.
This meeting was attended by four experts – Stephen Webb as partner responsible for the relationship with Timor-Leste, Stewart Winspear founder and consultant of DLA Piper, Peter Ashford as consultant to DLA and Catherine McDougall senior associate, with extensive experience in the aviation industry..

It is also worth remembering that, to develop the President Nicolau Lobato International Airport, the Japanese Government has granted US $ 43 million to support the development of the Dili airport terminal. This project should be completed and framed within the master plan being finalized by IFC (International Finance Corporation).