The Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, participated on December 10th, 2025, as a keynote speaker at the ASEAN Marketing Summit 2025, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of the MarkPlus Conference organised by MarkPlus, Inc. 
The ASEAN Marketing Summit is part of the MarkPlus Conference, an annual regional event that brings together government officials, business leaders, and experts to discuss economic trends, marketing, innovation, and digital transformation in the ASEAN region.
In his speech, the Vice Prime Minister emphasised that, as a new member of ASEAN, “this moment has particular significance,” as it reflects “Timor-Leste’s commitment, hope, and readiness to work together with everyone to build a stronger and more prosperous region.”
Francisco Kalbuadi Lay also stated that the ASEAN Marketing Summit “is not just a technical meeting,” but “a platform where leaders, experts, and partners from across the region come together to define how we project the regional image to investors, entrepreneurs, and tourists,” adding that the forum allows “sharing ideas on how to strengthen ASEAN’s competitiveness and unity in a rapidly changing global world.”
The Vice Prime Minister also highlighted that joining ASEAN “is not just about meeting technical requirements,” but signifies “connecting our people and our future with a broader regional family,” emphasising that economic integration will allow Timorese companies to participate in regional value chains and attract investment.
The event focused on topics such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, consumer behaviour, and strategies to enhance economic competitiveness in Southeast Asia.