On March 12th, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation launched in Dili the third cohort of the national leadership programme Futuru Líder Ba ASEAN (FLBA), the main national leadership development programme designed to prepare the next generation of Timorese leaders for Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN and to contribute to long-term national development. 
The ceremony also marked a milestone in the second phase of the programme, with the presentation of five strategic white papers produced by participants in the second cohort of FLBA. These documents were the outcome of 16 practical learning projects centred on national development priorities, reflecting the work carried out throughout the programme.
The FLBA is a 12-month training programme, fully funded by the Government, which brings together young professionals from different sectors and municipalities across the country. In its third edition, 120 professionals from around 100 national organisations are participating, selected from 480 applications, highlighting the programme’s growing recognition and prestige at the national level.
The program comprises training sessions, practical strategic projects, and immersion visits to ASEAN Member States. The initiative is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, under the leadership of Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas, with direct coordination from Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel.
In her speech, Vice Minister Milena Rangel stated that “As we continue advancing towards our integration into ASEAN and prepare for our ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029, it is vital that we further strengthen the skills, competencies, and leadership capacities that will underpin our national development and help shape our shared future”.
The ceremony also featured a speech by the Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, who said: “We commit to sustaining this leadership program for our future leaders, optimising resources, expanding to ASEAN Plus partners, and elevating youth and sports as engines of prosperity. Together, we build Timor-Leste’s vibrant future.”
Since its launch in 2024, the FLBA programme has helped prepare young Timorese professionals to engage with ASEAN structures and initiatives, as well as to enhance national capacities in the context of regional integration and the upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029.