DILI, 03 february 2026 (TATOLI) – Won-Sam Chang, President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is paying an official visit to Timor-Leste from 2 to 4 february to review bilateral development cooperation achievements and explore future directions for cooperation between the two countries.
This visit marks the first KOICA president-level visit to Timor-Leste in seven years since 2019. It was arranged to reflect on KOICA’s contributions to Timor-Leste’s socio-economic development and to further strengthen the longstanding and friendly partnership between the two nations.
Inauguration of the ‘Korea–Timor-Leste Friendship Sports Center’ in Becora: Securing a Growth Engine for Future Generations
On february 3, President Chang attended the inauguration ceremony of the Korea–Timor-Leste Friendship Sports Center in Becora, constructed with KOICA’s support.
The ceremony was attended by key officials, including Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Nelyo Issac Sarmento, the Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Arts of Timor-Leste, Youn-Hwa Kang, Country Director of KOICA Timor-Leste Office, and Sung-Hee Park, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Timor-Leste. Participants celebrated the completion of the facility through a plaque-signing ceremony and other commemorative events.
Timor-Leste is a notably young nation, with more than half of its population under the age of 20. As such, child and youth development through education and structured support is regarded as a critical determinant of the country’s future. In this context, the Sports Center was established as part of KOICA’s ‘Sports for Children Development Project in Timor-Leste (2021–2025)’.
Through this project, KOICA has provided comprehensive support to build a sustainable sports ecosystem in Timor-Leste, including:
- construction of facilities and provision of equipment (two football fields, a sports center, dormitories, etc.);
- operation of football classes and leagues;
- holistic child development education;
- awareness-raising on child development; and
- capacity-building and training of coaches.
The project is the first of its kind among donor agencies in the country to utilize sports as a platform for holistic child development. To date, a cumulative total of 5,739 children and youth have participated in youth sports and child development programs under the initiative.
President Chang stated, “I hope this project will provide tangible benefits to the youth and local communities of Timor-Leste,” adding, “KOICA will continue to pursue sustainable development cooperation based on local needs.”
Prime Minister Gusmão also expressed his hope that the Sports Center would contribute to the revitalization of youth sports activities and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding development cooperation projects that enable partner countries to grow together.
Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Congratulating ASEAN Accession and Expanding the Scope of Cooperation
Following the inauguration ceremony of the sports center, President Chang held a meeting with Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Timor-Leste.
President Chang first congratulated Timor-Leste on its achievements in advancing toward full membership in ASEAN, emphasizing that KOICA will stand alongside Timor-Leste as a key partner in its journey toward regional integration.
Both sides shared the achievements KOICA has made to date in the fields of education, health, and public administration, and held in-depth discussions on strengthening national administrative capacity and advancing tailored Official Development Assistance (ODA) strategies required in the post-ASEAN accession phase.
Visit to the National Graphics Art and Printing Center and Strengthening Tailored Local Cooperation
Following this, President Chang visited the National Graphics Art and Printing Center, established with support from KOICA, to review its current operations and encourage the staff. The center was built through KOICA’s National Printing Plant Establishment and Textbook Support Project (2010–2012) and continues to play a vital role in improving public administration and the educational environment in Timor-Leste by producing textbooks, teacher guides, and policy materials for the Ministry of Education.
Building on this visit, KOICA plans to further strengthen its partnership with Timor-Leste across various sectors—including child development, youth capacity building, health, and agricultural value chain development—and to continue expanding effective and impactful support.
The Minister of Education of Timor-Leste, Dulce de Jesus Soares, had the opportunity to meet with President Chang. They exchanged information about KOICA’s ongoing projects and discussed further potential support for the education sector in Timor-Leste.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is a government agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, established in 1991 to oversee grant aid. KOICA supports the socio-economic development of partner countries and contributes to global peace and shared prosperity. Since opening its office in Timor-Leste in 2010, KOICA has actively implemented a wide range of Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects to promote the country’s sustainable growth, including initiatives to improve child nutrition and health and strengthen educational capacity.
Sports for Children Development Project in Timor-Leste
The ‘Sports for Children Development Project in Timor-Leste (2021-2025)’ is a KOICA-funded initiative with a total budget of USD 6.5 million, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture of Timor-Leste. The project aims to promote the holistic development and social integration of children in Timor-Leste through sports. To this end, the project has undertaken activities including the improvement of the sports environment (construction of sports centers and football fields), operation of football clinics and local training programs to strengthen the capacity of youth coaches, development of sports education and sports center operation manuals, and the development of training materials for youth coaches.
- A total of 5,739 beneficiaries reached through youth sports programs and child development–related activities
- Newly building of the Korea–Timor-Leste Friendship Sports Center and two football fields, along with the renovation of three regional playgrounds
- Construction of the Korea–Timor-Leste Friendship Sports Center: two stories above ground, with a total floor area of 1,140㎡
- Two football fields within the sports center (105m × 68m / 80m × 55m)
- Provision of sports equipment completed, covering 148 categories and 4,402 items
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