On October 27^th, 2023, the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, officially signed a bilateral agreement with the Government of Brunei Darussalam for a programme to send workers from Timor-Leste to Brunei. 

Prior to the signing of this agreement, the Vice Prime Minister, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, participated in the state visit of the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, to hold a bilateral meeting with the King of Brunei Darussalam, Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III, at the Nurul Iman Palace.  

President Ramos-Horta’s visit to Brunei occurred at the invitation of the King of Brunei Darussalam, Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III, a good friend of Timor-Leste since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on May 20^th, 2002.