DILI, 26 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, the Chairman of Pelican Paradise Ltd, Datuk Ong Han, members of government, members of parliament, ambassadors, and many other dignitaries and businessmen celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the 5-star hotel to be known as Pelican Paradise Resort, located in the area between Tasi-Tolu and Tibar, Timor-Leste.
This world-class resort would be included Hotels, flats, villas, golf courses, tennis courts, youth development centers, kids’ clubs, hospitals, shopping centers, and so on.
The first phase of the US$700 million mega-project is expected to employ more than 1,000 local people.
The resort would cover 550 hectares, from Tasi-Toli in Dili to Tibar in Liquica municipality.
The Government of Timor-Leste and Pelican Paradise signed the initial project agreement in 2008. In early January 2022, the government and Pelican Paradise officially signed the Special Investment Agreement (SIA) for the construction of the large resort, at the Novo Turismo Hotel, in Dili.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, President Horta said Pelican Paradise has built first-class architectural buildings for tourist destinations in Singapore and Malaysia: “I saw the 3D presentation of this project. The project once completed with nothing to the best architectural design in Dubai, Sydney, and Honolulu-Hawaii. Because the President of Pelican Paradise, Datuk Ong Han has told me several times that Pelican Paradise does not want to give anything less than the best to Timor-Leste.”
“We have this major investment that will bring not only direct employment to many hundreds of young Timorese but also indirect employment in the areas of agriculture, fishing, and so on,” Horta said in Tibar, Liquica, on friday.
The Head of State said thousands of tourists will come to Timor-Leste and use the resort.
He said the Pelican Paradise investment initiative is proof of Timor-Leste’s political stability: “We may have different governance, but an initiative of great national interest is part of every government’s priority: “The Pelican Paradise started with one government and continues into another.”
“Thank you, Datuk Ong Han, your family, and all the Pelican Paradise staff, for believing in Timor-Leste and not giving up despite the challenges and setbacks you faced in the country,” Horta said.
Datuk Ong Han explained: “We have combined Plot 3 designated for 228 service apartments known as The Aery which gives 624 keys and Plot 10 which is designated for the resort hotel known as Pelican Paradise Resort which gives 303keys and 10 villas as Phase One, that will give us in total, 927keys, 10 villas, 1 presidential suite, and 4 penthouses, that will house 15 heads of states, each has a separate private entrance.”
The Aery will have private lifts for individual 3 and 4 bedrooms, bubble lifts to Sky Garden, and Roof gardens. The Pelican Paradise Resort will have a ballroom of 1040pax, 11 meeting rooms, a VIP lobby, a Private Club Lounge, a 30,000 sq ft State Of Art Gym, a 50m infinity lap pool, a spa that befits the 5 stars facility, a covered tennis court, and kids club.
“The Aery and Pelican Paradise Resort will provide around 1000 jobs in the whole of Phase One,” he said.
Datuk informed that the development places a strong emphasis on improving the environment: “We have integrated 5 MW of solar panels, Solar powered RO to convert seawater to potable water to supplement water provided by the authority, all surface drainage will be recycled to use water for landscape use.”
“The management of the whole complex is committed to zero plastic and providing Electric Vehicle charging ports for an electric vehicle that we anticipate Timor-Leste will use as what we see in other developed countries. Whatever and whenever possible, we will discard the use of fossil fuel,” he said.
Datuk thanked President Horta, Prime Minister Ruak, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, Minister Edmundo Caetano, Minister Joaquim Amaral, and TradeInvest for their continued support: “Thank you for believing in us.
“We need to work hand in hand with the government, and together we believe both can overcome any challenges on our way to bring this development to completion for God’s GLORY,” he concluded.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
