In view of strengthening the relations between the two neighbouring countries, the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MTCI) delegation, lead by the Domestic Commerce Director, Fernando Hi da Silva, made a courtesy visit last month to the Governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) of the Republic of Indonesia, Frans Lebu Raya, in Kupang.

At the meeting, Frans Lebu Raya pointed out the great importance of economic activities between Timor-Leste and the NTT Province, since the NTT export index regarding Timor-Leste is superior to the import, around 82%. The import to Timor-Leste decreased, in these last two years, from US$2.9 million to US$124 thousand. The expectation in this cooperation would be in the sense of increasing the export activities from both sides, forming a strong connection in the protection and development of the relations between NTT and Timor-Leste.

The Chief of the delegation remindeed the purpose of the visit to Kupang, as a continuity to the technical cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed between the MTCI and the Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Commerce, in Jakarta on the 29th of April of 2008. In this way it is expected that the NTT Province authorities may share experiences with Timor-Leste regarding commercial activities.