On September 22nd, 2023, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, held a meeting with representatives of the private sector from China, Macau and Singapore, interested in investing in Timor-Leste. The meeting took place in Hangzhou, China.
During the meeting, the investors gave a presentation of their companies and expressed their interest in investing in Timor-Leste.
The Prime Minister introduced the 9th Constitutional Government’s Programme, informed the group of investors that the Government’s priority throughout its five-year mandate is economic development, and that Timor-Leste is open to foreign investment in various areas.
The Head of Government emphasised the importance of foreign investment to help develop infrastructure and the national economy.
Xanana Gusmão also pointed out that the Government intends to reform investment legislation to guarantee international investors a safe and credible system.
Prime Minister Xanana highlighted roads, water and airport infrastructures, agriculture, fisheries, and the oil and gas sector, namely the exploration of the ‘greater sunrise’, among other areas, as priority areas for investment in Timor-Leste.
“Private sector investors have the freedom to choose in which areas they wish to invest, and we will be available to assist in several areas,” said the Prime Minister.
The Head of Government recognised that Timor-Leste faces challenges in various sectors and shortages of human resources. Still, the people and the nation want to move forward to improve the situation with investment support from the foreign private sector.
The Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosario Cabral; the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão de Sousa; the Minister of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento; the Timor-Leste Ambassador to China, Abrão Santos; the Timor-Leste Trade and Industry Attaché to China, Benjamin “SAIMESAK”; and the former President of the Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-TL Portuguese acronym) and current Director of Aero Dili Company, Lourenço de Oliveira attended this meeting.