The Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), concluded the third session of the second phase of the Capacity Building Program (CBP 2.0), aimed at supporting Timor-Leste’s full accession to ASEAN. 
The training, held in Dili on September 9 and 10, brought together around 100 officials from 14 ministries and government institutions to discuss dispute resolution mechanisms, cooperation in the mining and energy sectors and digital economy. The interactive sessions were led by specialists from ASEC and Vietnam and explored practical approaches to implementing ASEAN economic agreements, including the technical and institutional requirements needed to align national policies with regional frameworks.
At the opening session, Director-General for ASEAN Affairs, Elisa da Silva emphasized Timor-Leste’s strong commitment to regional integration, stating that “as Timor-Leste moves towards ASEAN membership and deepens its participation in regional and global economic structures, the ability to understand, navigate, and apply rules-based mechanisms for dispute resolution will be essential.”
The ASEAN Secretariat also reiterated its support, with Adjunct Director of the International Economic and Trade Law Division Nadya Fanessa stating that “the ASEAN Secretariat remains committed to walking side by side with Timor-Leste as it prepares to take its place as the 11th Member State of ASEAN.”
The ADB highlighted the importance of continued technical assistance, with ADB Country Director for Timor-Leste, Stefania Dina adding that “the ADB remains fully committed to supporting Timor-Leste’s regional integration beyond accession. We will continue to provide technical assistance through the Multilateral and Regional Economic Integration Capacity Building project and will strengthen our efforts under the newly approved regional initiative in support of the ASEAN Post-2025 Agenda.”
This was the third in a series of CBP 2.0 activities designed to strengthen Timor-Leste’s institutional capacity and prepare the country for accession. The first session, held on March 11, addressed the main economic frameworks of ASEAN and the Priority One Agreements, while the second, held from May 6 to 8, focused on the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), rules of origin, customs valuation, and land and air transport agreements.
Launched in 2023, the Capacity Building Program responds to the recommendations of the ASEAN Economic Community Assessment Mission to Timor-Leste in 2022 and seeks to address knowledge and process gaps, ensuring that government officials are prepared to implement ASEAN economic commitments. The program is implemented under the ADB Technical Assistance project “Capacity Building for Multilateral and Regional Economic Integration” and is part of Timor-Leste’s broader strategy for regional economic integration and strengthening institutional preparedness.
Timor-Leste thus reaffirms its firm commitment to the ASEAN accession process and will continue to work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat and its Member States, as well as with the ADB and other development partners, on its journey towards full regional integration. END
