DILI, 27 november 2023 (TATOLI) – The European Union, in collaboration with Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) and National Institute for Manpower Development (INDMO), successfully organized the “Agroforestry Entrepreneurial Skills Competition” in Timor-Leste.
The main objective of the competition was to promote entrepreneurial skills among youth, specifically focusing on agriculture, forestry, and horticulture. Four teams, representing different training centres, showcased their innovative business ideas with the aim of transforming them into sustainable agroforestry ventures. Each team received professional technical advice and financial support to be able to prepare their business plan.
Four remarkable teams, consisting of four students and one teacher, participated from each of the following training centres: CNEFP-TIBAR, CTC-SALELE, CETAP-CORLULI, and CDC-BAUCAU.
Throughout the competition, facilitators visited the teams twice, conducting workshops to assist in the development of the business idea and providing essential guidance. The teams underwent comprehensive training in entrepreneurship, communication, financial management, and project management. Renowned experts in these areas, including Maria Mazarela (finance), Franke Monteiro, and Leo Soares (agroforestry), facilitated the training sessions.
A distinguished panel of judges, including EU Ambassador to Timor-Leste Marc Fiedrich, the president of AMETL, Hergui Luina Alves, INDMO Director, Isabel Lima (INDMO), and SEFOPE Employment Director Paulo Alves, assessed the viability and innovation of the business ideas, in an innovative concept of TV talk show. The winning team, CDC Baucau, received a prize of US$2,500 in materials and equipment to support the implementation of their business idea: Sandalwood plantation using the alley cropping model (Kuda Ai kameli ho Modelo Alley Cropping).
Marc Fiedrich, EU Ambassador to Timor-Leste, expressed the significance of supporting green and entrepreneurial skills, stating, “It’s important for the European Union to support green skills and entrepreneurial skills in Timor-Leste because here in Timor-Leste, many people still look at farming as something that you do when you have nothing else to do, when you don’t find formal employment. That’s a very strange way of looking at things and one that we would want to change because farming has real potential here in Timor-Leste, and Agroforestry, in particular, has real potential and not all of that is yet exploited. People could exploit that much more and become successful entrepreneurs by doing that.”
Isabel Lima from INDMO emphasized the positive impact of the initiative, stating: “When the European Union initiated this idea, discussed the possibilities with INDMO, and we had several meetings until starting this activity. This support is very important and very positive.”
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
