The Government of Timor-Leste is hosting the High-Level Conference “Harnessing Natural Resource Wealth for Inclusive Growth and Economic Development” in Dili, from September 17 to 19.
The event is jointly organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Government of Timor-Leste in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group (WBG) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The conference will focus on policies for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in natural resource rich countries. Key issues include ways to strengthen the macro-fiscal framework and strategies for economic diversification. The conference will include regional and global perspectives with representatives from a number of diverse resource-rich countries in Asia and the Pacific, as well as Africa and the Caribbean sharing the lessons from their experiences. The event will conclude with a high-level Policy Round Table Discussion.

Agenda

Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Venue: Palácio Nobre – Lahane

7:00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. – Welcome Dinner
Greetings: H.E. Taur Matan Ruak, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Venue: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Center

9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. – Keynote Session
Moderator: H.E. Emília Pires, Minister of Finance
H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Mr. Anoop Singh, IMF
Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and UN Secretary General Special Adviser for Timor-Leste
Professor Jeff Sachs, Earth Institute, (by video)

10.00 a.m. to 10.45 a.m. – The Macro-Fiscal Nexus
Moderator: Mr. Hoe Ee Khor, IMF
Mr. Neil Saker, IMF
Mr. Alun Thomas, IMF
Professor Yoshitaka Hosoi, JICA
Q&A

10.45 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. – Coffee Break

11.00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. – Promoting Diversification – Financial Sector Development
Moderator: Central Bank
Mr. Scott Roger, Project Coordinator, Pacific Financial and Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC)
Mr. Glenn Maguire, Chief Economist for Asia Pacific, ANZ Bank
Q&A

11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Promoting Diversification – Private Sector Development
Moderator: Dr. Hafiz Pasha, Advisor to the Minister of Finance, RDTL
Mr. Changyong Rhee, Chief Economist, ADB
Mr. Frederico Gil Sander, WBG
Professor Tan Kim Song, Singapore Management University
Ms. Kathleen Gonçalves, Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Q&A

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Lunch
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr. Alfredo Pires
Mr. Jan Rieländer, OECD Development Centre

2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. – Promoting Diversification – Agriculture, Infrastructure, Human Capital
Moderator: Mr. Changyong Rhee, Chief Economist, ADB
Mr. Ndiame Diop, WB
Ms. Towfiqua Hoque, WBG
Mr. Xianbin Yao, ADB
Q&A

3.30 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. – Coffee Break

3.45 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. – Country Experiences and Lessons Learned—Macro-Fiscal issues
Moderator: Mr. João Saldanha, Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Timor-Leste
Mr. Tserenpuntsag Batbold, UNDP, on Mongolia
Mr. Ewart Williams, former Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago
Open discussion by Country Representatives and Q&A

5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. – Informal session by country participants to discuss key conclusions
Venue: Timor Hotel

7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. – Dinner
Venue: Timor Hotel
Remarks: Mr. Xianbin Yao, ADB; Mr. Franz Drees-Gross, WBG; Mr. Hiroto Arakawa, JICA
Professor Paul Collier, Oxford University (by video)
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Venue: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Conference Center

9.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. – Country Experiences and Lessons Learned—Diversification Issues
Moderator: Mr. Arakawa, JICA
Dr. Al Ismaily, Chairman, Investment Promotion and Export Development Authority, Oman;
Mr. Surong Bulakul, Chief Financial Officer, Petroleum Authority of Thailand
Mr. Rizwan Rahuman, Bank Negara Malaysia
Ms. Megumi Muto, Deputy Director General, Southeast and Pacific Department, JICA
Open discussion by country representatives and Q&A

10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. – Policy Round Table
Moderator: Mr. Singh, IMF
Country participants

11.30 a.m. to Noon – Final Remarks
H.E. Emilia Pires, Minister of Finance
Mr. Singh, IMF