DILI, 21 december 2023 (TATOLI) – Sandeep Chakravorty, Ambassador from the Republic of India, and Caitlin Wilson, Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Australia, presented their credentials to the President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta, in a diplomatic ceremony held at The Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace.
The Republic of India and Timor-Leste has been actively engaged in various sectors since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Timor-Leste and India on january 24, 2003. Both nations have explored collaboration in defense, education, health, agriculture, and cultural exchange programs. During the ASEAN-India meeting at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in september 2023 in Jakarta, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, announced the decision to establish a permanent mission in Timor-Leste, underscoring India’s commitment to ASEAN and its relations with Timor-Leste.
Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty, with over three decades of diplomatic service, has held key positions such as India’s Ambassador to Peru and Bolivia, Consul General in New York, and Deputy High Commissioner in Bangladesh. Prior to his current role as Ambassador to Jakarta, he served as Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, overseeing India’s relations with Europe West and the EU. The non-resident Indian Ambassador is accredited to Timor-Leste with residence in Jakarta.
The Commonwealth of Australia and Timor-Leste have a history of close neighborly relations and strong people-to-people links. Australia has been a key supporter of Timor-Leste since its independence in 2002, maintaining its status as Timor-Leste’s largest development and security partner. The two nations are actively pursuing cooperation in various sectors, including Development, Economic diversification, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, major infrastructure projects, Education, Security and Defence, People to people connections, as well as supporting Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Ambassador Caitlin Wilson brings a wealth of experience in Pacific development, foreign policy, and multilateral issues. Serving as Australia’s Chargé d’Affaires to Timor-Leste since may 2023, she has previously held significant diplomatic roles, including Deputy Head of Mission and Deputy Permanent Representative for the Australian Mission to the United Nations in New York.
Timor-Leste is confident that the appointments of Ambassador Chakravorty and Ambassador Wilson will elevate and strengthen the existing cooperation and friendship between Timor-Leste and the respective countries.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
