DILI,07 september 2022 ( TATOLI) -Over 40 delegations of the Australia Nothern Territory today visit Timor – Leste to discuss with the Government of Timor- Leste about the seasonal worker training for Timorese workers to work in Australia.
The delegation was led by the Hon Paul Kirby MLA, Minister of Agribusiness and Fisheries during 3 days in Timor – Leste, starting from 07- 10 2022.
Paul Kirby MLA said the visit is to strengthen the bilateral cooperation with the Government of Timor-Leste in the area of Agriculture to empower Timorese workers before working in Australia.
“My delegation is over 40 persons, some of them are businessmen and farmers, therefore I brought them to Timor – Leste, to see directly the situation and condition facing Timor – Leste, to overcome the solution. Timor – Leste, and Australia, is strong partners since Timor – Leste got its independence until now, thus Australia wishes to strengthen the cooperation in all national development sectors, especially in the area of agriculture,” Hon Paul Kirby MLA, told TATOLI at the Timor – Plaza, Suai r room, Dili on tuesday.
Minister Paul Kirby MLA, considered Timorese workers are diligent but training is more required for them to increase their knowledge and skills to work on the farms.
“The company in NT will recruit more workers from Timor-Leste to work in the farm of NT but workers must firstly before train before work in NT to work with quality and effectiveness in the farm of NT, Australia,”
The development of the industry is threatened by the availability of reliable workers. NT Farmers anticipate that by 2030, the industry will have a shortage of 3375 workers in the horticultural sector alone, currently, there are roughly 100 Timor – Leste workers in the NT.
“For such reason, we would like to be the destination of choices for Timor – Leste workers, thus Timorese workers will earn much money to sustain their economy and to support the national development in Timor – Leste,” he concluded.
At the same place the Vice- Minister of the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Domingos Antunes Lopes, on behalf of the Government of Timor – Leste, welcome the NT Government Minister, The Hon Paul Kirby together with his delegation that wishes to work together with the Government of Timor – Leste to run the Bussiness opportunities in both nations.
” We hope that Timor – Leste and Australia will work together as the mutual benefit to recovery the economic after Covid – 19 with the motto of growing together between Timor – Leste and Australia,” he concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
