Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, emphasised today, May 25th, 2026, in Dili, the importance of strengthening public institutions, modernising the state, and promoting regional integration in Timor-Leste during the session dedicated to the Institutional Development Sector as part of the annual meeting with Timor-Leste’s Development Partners (TLDPM), under the theme “Charting a Resilient Horizon: Blue Economy, ASEAN Integration, and Coordinated Action.” The meeting brings together officials from the Government, development partners, and representatives from civil society and the private sector to analyse national strategic priorities, development challenges, and institutional coordination mechanisms. 
In his remarks, the minister stated that “strong institutions are the foundation of everything,” adding that “a predictable and reliable government builds trust—the trust of its citizens and of the partners and investors whose involvement can help us grow.”
Agio Pereira emphasised that institutional development is one of the priorities of the 9th Constitutional Government, in line with the 2011–2030 Strategic Development Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, and Timor-Leste’s commitments within the ASEAN framework.
The minister also highlighted Timor-Leste’s full accession to ASEAN, which will be finalised in October 2025, and noted that this marks “the beginning of a new journey.” He added that “we are not mere spectators of ASEAN integration. We are its builders,” and noted that Timor-Leste will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029.
During his speech, Agio Pereira also addressed the challenges of economic and institutional development, advocating investment in human capital, digital transformation, the blue economy, and social inclusion. “Human capital is not a secondary priority. It is the driving force behind everything else,” he stated.
The minister also emphasised the need to bring public services closer to the people and to promote inclusion through administrative modernisation. “The digital government (…) is not merely an exercise in modernisation, but an act of inclusion,” he stated.
The technical presentation by the Institutional Development Sector was delivered by Natália Sarmento, Coordinator of the Office for the Development of Strategic Public Policies (GDPPE) within the Office of the President of the Council of Ministers. The presentation highlighted the Sector’s main achievements and priorities within the framework for implementing Government Resolution No. 43/2024, which established the Interministerial Commissions for Sectoral Development Coordination (CICDS). Within this interministerial coordination framework, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers chairs the Institutional Development Sector commission.
During the presentation, national progress and strategic priorities were highlighted across government coordination, justice, security, defence, international relations and cooperation, state administration, administrative decentralisation, local governance, border management and migration, civil protection, digital transformation, public administration, spatial planning, and regional integration. Priorities also included strengthening inter-ministerial coordination, modernising the state, strengthening democratic institutions and institutional capacity, improving the delivery of public services, and preparing Timor-Leste for the challenges and opportunities arising from integration into ASEAN and growing national participation in regional and international mechanisms.
At the end of his remarks, Agio Pereira emphasised that “the institutions we are building today are not for us. They are for those who will come after us,” arguing for the need to prepare future generations to take “their place at the table of nations.”
The meeting with Timor-Leste’s development partners will be held on May 25th and 26th at the Ministry of Finance, bringing together representatives of the Government, international partners, and national institutions to discuss development priorities, public policy coordination, and strategic cooperation across various areas.