FLBA Cohort 3 Cambodia Immersion Strengthens Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Readiness
DÍLI, 12 August 2026 (TATOL) — The Future Leader ba ASEAN (FLBA) Cohort 3 delegation from Timor-Leste has completed a five-day immersion programme in Cambodia, gaining practical knowledge and experience in governance, education, vocational training, trade, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, culture, health, environmental sustainability and ASEAN integration.
The delegation, led by Solange Borges as Team Leader, consisted of ten young Timorese professionals from diverse backgrounds and sectors. The programme provided an opportunity for the participants to engage directly with Cambodian government ministries, public institutions, private-sector organisations, youth and entrepreneurship networks, technology innovators and civil society organisations.
Throughout the immersion, the delegation was accompanied and supported by Marcos, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Cambodia, Avelino Pereira, First Secretary and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Phnom Penh, and Janu Rangel, Technical Coach of the FLBA Cohort 3 team.
A key objective of the programme was to learn from Cambodia’s development experience as an ASEAN Member State and to identify practical lessons that could be relevant to Timor-Leste’s national development and its future role within ASEAN. Particular attention was given to Cambodia’s experience in hosting the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2002, 2012 and 2022, providing valuable insights for Timor-Leste as it prepares to host the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029.
The delegation held discussions with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, including engagement with the Secretary of State responsible for vocational training, where participants learned about Cambodia’s approaches to education, youth development, skills development and human capital preparation.
The delegation also visited and engaged with the Ministry of Commerce, learning about Cambodia’s trade policy, digital business registration, trade facilitation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurship and regional economic integration. The experience provided useful benchmarks for Timor-Leste as it continues to strengthen its private sector and participation in the ASEAN Economic Community.
Digital transformation and artificial intelligence were another important area of learning. Through engagement with technology and innovation organisations, including the Techo Startup Center and AI Forum Cambodia, the delegation explored Cambodia’s experience in digital transformation, AI adoption, youth innovation and the development of technology-based solutions for government, education and businesses.
In the health sector, the delegation learned from Cambodia’s experience in public health systems, health service delivery, epidemiological surveillance, emergency response and coordination among relevant institutions. These lessons were particularly relevant to Timor-Leste as it continues to strengthen its health system and prepare for increased regional engagement.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts also welcomed the delegation and shared Cambodia’s experience in protecting tangible and intangible cultural heritage, supporting creative industries and connecting culture with tourism and economic development. The meeting identified potential areas for future Cambodia–Timor-Leste cooperation, including cultural heritage preservation, museums, creative industries, youth engagement and knowledge exchange.
Environmental sustainability was another component of the immersion. Through engagement with River Ocean Cleanup, the delegation observed practical approaches to addressing river and ocean pollution through community participation, environmental awareness, recycling and cooperation among different stakeholders.
One of the most significant lessons throughout the programme was the importance of strong institutional coordination, practical implementation and partnerships. The delegation observed that Cambodia’s development experience has been supported not only by government policy, but also by cooperation between ministries, the private sector, civil society, young entrepreneurs and international partners.
The Cambodian institutions and organisations visited also expressed their willingness to continue sharing knowledge and experience with Timor-Leste. The delegation sees this as an opportunity to develop future cooperation, including through institutional partnerships, technical exchanges, capacity-building programmes and potential Memoranda of Understanding in areas of mutual interest.
For Team Leader Solange Borges, the immersion was an important opportunity for the ten young Timorese professionals to move beyond learning from documents and presentations and to experience directly how another ASEAN Member State approaches development.
“This immersion allowed us not only to learn about Cambodia’s development, but also to understand the practical realities behind policies and institutions. As future leaders of Timor-Leste and ASEAN, we have a responsibility to bring these lessons home and consider how they can be adapted to our own context.”
The delegation expressed its sincere appreciation to the Timor-Leste Embassy in Phnom Penh, particularly Ambassador Marcos, First Secretary Avelino Pereira and Technical Coach Janu Rangel, for their guidance, coordination and support throughout the immersion programme.
The FLBA Cohort 3 delegation also expressed appreciation to all Cambodian ministries, institutions, organisations and individuals who welcomed the delegation and generously shared their knowledge and experiences.
As Timor-Leste continues its journey as a full member of ASEAN and prepares for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029, the delegation believes that exchanges such as the Cambodia immersion can contribute to strengthening Timor-Leste’s institutional capacity, leadership development and readiness to play a meaningful role in the ASEAN Community.
The participants now return to Timor-Leste with new knowledge, professional networks and practical ideas, with a shared commitment to contribute to the country’s national development and to prepare for Timor-Leste’s important responsibilities within ASEAN.
TATOLI
