DILI, 13 June 2025 (TATOLI) – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Embassy of Japan to Timor-Leste, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, organized a workshop on Innovation and Economic Diversification in Timor-Leste. The event highlighted innovative local initiatives supported under the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge and explored the role of entrepreneurship in accelerating economic diversification and sustainable development.
Held at the Embassy of Japan in Dili, the workshop brought together key stakeholders from government institutions, the private sector, development partners, academia, and civil society. The event provided a platform for dialogue on the enabling environment for innovation, cross-border collaboration, and investment in emerging sectors such as the blue economy, green technology, and sustainable tourism.
The ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge, launched in 2024 by the Government of Japan and UNDP, identified over 9,000 regional applicants, including 95 from Timor-Leste. Four Timorese entrepreneurs were selected and awarded grants to implement impactful solutions ranging from coastal protection and blue carbon to tourism and climate resilience.
The event featured remarks by Kimura Tetsuya, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste; Katyna Argueta, UNDP Resident Representative; and Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry.
The event also featured presentations by the four awardees, each recognized for their innovative solutions to environmental and climate challenges. The Bamboo Institute presented its bamboo nursery initiative aimed at preventing coastal erosion, while NETIL Timor-Leste highlighted its mangrove conservation project linked to blue carbon production. Prospares Web Tech showcased a digital booking system designed to promote sustainable tourism, and Similie Timor introduced its early warning system developed to enhance the climate resilience of coastal communities.
A panel discussion will engage diverse voices from the national business community and development sectors under the theme: “How innovation and business initiatives can promote economic diversification in Timor-Leste”, featuring: Hergui Luina Alves Fernandes, President of AEMTL, Junko Ito, Representative of PARCIC, Daniel Leong, Executive Director of ACTL, and BNCTL Representative.
This initiative is part of UNDP’s broader support to inclusive economic transformation and innovation in Timor-Leste, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and 13 (Climate Action).
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
