DILI, 10 June 2025 — The Japanese company Tsuneishi Shipbuilding has reiterated its commitment to building a shipyard in Laleia, Manatuto, as part of a major investment project that could generate thousands of jobs and boost Timor-Leste’s industrial capacity.
Japanese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Tetsuya Kimura, and representatives from Tsuneishi Timor Shipbuilding met on Tuesday with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão to present the latest developments on the project.
“We briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of the implementation of the project, and he expressed his strong support for the initiative,” Ambassador Kimura told reporters after the meeting at the Government Palace in Dili.
According to Kimura, Tsuneishi Timor Shipbuilding will soon carry out a feasibility study to determine the most suitable location for the shipyard: “Once the study is completed, detailed negotiations with the government will begin to pave the way for the construction and operation of the shipbuilding facility.”
The ambassador also confirmed that the company has already set up an office in Timor-Leste and hired 42 local employees. Ten of them are currently undergoing training at the company’s headquarters in Japan, with another 11 scheduled to join the program next month.
The shipyard project began to gain momentum last year when a Japanese delegation — including representatives from Tsuneishi Timor Shipbuilding and Timor-Leste’s national investment agency, TradeInvest — conducted a site visit in Manatuto. Of the five locations evaluated, a plot in Suco Sau, Laleia, was identified as the most suitable for the project.
The Japanese company plans to develop approximately 970 square kilometers of land. According to the initial proposal, this private investment could generate at least 4,000 jobs for Timorese workers and produce 10 to 12 ships annually. The long-term vision also encompasses the construction of supporting infrastructure, including schools, hotels, and hospitals.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
