DILI, 16 february 2024 (TATOLI) – The European Union (EU) presented on thursday with Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Filipus Nino Pereira, the Regional Integration and Trade Project.
This project, of three million Euros, has been implemented since october 2023 and will have a duration of three years. The International trade Centre (ITC) is implementing the project in close partnership with the Vice-Minister for ASEAN, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
This Project will provide technical assistance and capacity building to Timor-Leste in the process of acceding to the ASEAN, post accession to WTO and to the negotiations of the Pacific EPA with the EU. These agreements under ASEAN, WTO and EPA will have fundamental impacts on Timor-Leste’s future economic and trade relations with the existing ASEAN member states and with the rest of the world, as well as on the business operation and people’s lives in the country.
The project is working in an integrated and coordinated way to avoid duplication of support and actions from different donors. The activities are demand driven and comply with the needs and requirements of regional integration of Timor-Leste in the organizations and agreements mentioned before.
At the event, Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific in the EEAS (European External Action Service) said that: “I hope that the good start will allow for an optimal use of the resources, that all the different actors can bring to this process, allowing Timor-Leste to reap the benefits of better integration sooner rather than later. From the European Union side, you can count on a continuous partnership. We are committed to support Timor-Leste in promoting sustainable development, through economic diversification and qualification of human resources.”
Vice-Minister Milena Rangel thanked the European Union for its continued support and commitment to Timor-Leste as a dedicated development Partner and the International Trade Centre for the activities implemented since last year and the effective dynamics already created between the project and all relevant actors.
She said: “Timor-Leste believes in the potential of trade as a driving force to promote economic growth and development, raise standards of living, and further the goal of stability, peace, and good governance. We are aware that this journey is long and will continue well beyond our accession to the WTO, ASEAN, and the EU-Pacific EPA but we are confident that, if we continue down this path, we will be able to realize the aspirations of the Timorese.”
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
