DILI, 10 january 2024 (TATOLI) – The ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted the third and fourth clusters (Cluster III) of the Capacity Building Program (CBP) for Timor-Leste’s Accession to the ASEAN.
Deputy Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel thanked the speakers and experts from the ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat for taking the time to train the officials and appreciated ADB for its support.
Minister Rangel said that CBP aims to enhance the capacity of the Timor-Leste officials on Investment, Services, and Trade: “The importance of today’s training is to improve the capacity of our officials on Services and Investment Agreement, and so on.”
“Today’s training is the last of the four clusters of the Capacity Building Program. Cluster I and II trainings were successfully held last year, covering the work, processes, and mechanisms of the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement,” Minister Rangel said on the sidelines of the training, in Dili.
She said Timor-Leste’s success in realizing the roadmap depends on the collaboration, coordination, and joint commitment of the government, ASEC, ADB, and so on.
Meanwhile, ADB Country Director Stefania Dina expressed her appreciation to the Government of Timor-Leste, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MoFAC), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), and TradeInvest as focal points for the Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM), and the ASEAN Secretariat for their unwavering commitment and dedication in organizing the training.
Dina encouraged all officials to take the opportunity seriously to learn new knowledge and experiences on Services and Investment from other ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, and Singapore.
“Investment encapsulates a comprehensive, long-term process aimed at elevating people’s standard of living and advancing the country’s resilience. It comprises the development of robust road and transportation networks across the country and with the region, improving connectivity for the Timorese people,’’ she said.
Officials from Timor-Leste’s various ministries and line agencies participated in the training. The program provided immersive and engaging learning experiences for the participants through interactive discussions on the relevant aspects of the ASEAN Investment and Services.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
