DILI, 09 April 2025 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Nino Pereira, representing the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay attended the AIM Congress 2025 in Dubai.
The event, which took place on April 7-9 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, brought together decision-makers, business leaders, investors, and government officials to discuss economic developments and explore new opportunities that drive sustainable economic growth.
Minister Pereira, with great honor and privilege, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the UAE Government for hosting this roundtable, which aims to reshape the global investment landscape.
During the congress, Minister Pereira presented a platform and a major commitment to create investment opportunities in tourism through policy innovation.
“Emerging trends shaping the future of tourism investment in Timor-Leste and the region include the growing need for affordable tourism and sustainable travel experiences, digital transformation in tourism services, and increasing interest in community-based tourism. There is also a regional push for resilient infrastructure and climate tourism development, which aligns with Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 (SDP),” he said in a statement.
Pereira said that Timor-Leste is preparing to capitalize on these trends by: promoting eco-tourism and heritage-based tourism, leveraging its rich biodiversity and cultural assets; developing tourism infrastructure, such as the expansion of airports and connectivity improvements; encouraging private sector investment through regulatory reforms and incentives; strengthening human capital with tourism-related training and capacity building; and collaborating with regional partners and international agencies to align with ASEAN and global tourism standards.
During Congress, Minister Pereira, together with global leaders and politicians, held an in-depth discussion on the critical role of governments in developing the growing tourism sector through effective policies.
Timor-Leste’s participation in this meeting offers an opportunity to learn from other countries with similar models, particularly in terms of lessons learned, experiences in policy reform, legal frameworks, and other aspects related to fostering public-private partnerships.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
