DILI,21 january 2023 ( TATOLI)– Timor – Leste President of Republic (PR), José Ramos Horta, requested the International Trade Center to support Timor -Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asia Nations ( ASEAN) and the World Trade Organization ( WTO) memberships.
The request was made by Timorese President, Jose Ramos Horta at the meeting with the Executive Director of the International Trade Center, Pamela Coke- Hamilton in Switzerland.
In a statement released by the Office of the President, stated that the International Trade Center has joined the mandate with WTO and also the Organization of the United Nations ( UN), therefore President Horta requested the support of the International Trade Center to support Timor-Leste by providing human resources training after Timor – Leste become the full member of ASEAN and WTO.
“Singapore is preparing to provide a support package to Timor- Leste while Britain has committed to supporting the fund and also working with the Secretariat, according to the guidelines that will be conveyed at the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia in May 2023,” said Horta.
Meanwhile, the Director Executive of the International Trade Center, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, in turn, said the entity is currently evaluating Timor – Leste’s s accession to ASEAN, WTO, and European Union cooperation as well as in several countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific ( ACP- EU).
“Timor – Leste can discuss with the EU how to access WTO, ACP – EU, and ASEAN and also develop the guidelines for accession to ASEAN. We are evaluating the accession to ASEAN and will discuss with Singapore to duplicate this collaboration,” said Hamilton.
While the Ambassador of Timor – Leste in Switzerland, Maria de Lurdes Bessa, informed that soon will have cooperation in Geneva with the Philippines and Canada to support Timor – Leste to become a state member of ASEAN and WTO.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor : Nelia B.
