Ramos-Horta hails Singapore as model for small nations
DÍLI, 21 August 2026 (TATOLI) – President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta attended the 61st National Day of Singapore celebrations at the Palm Spring Hotel in Dili on Friday, delivering a heartfelt speech that praised the island nation’s remarkable historical journey.
Addressing Ambassador Teo Lay Cheng and members of the diplomatic corps, the Head of State paid tribute to Singapore’s founding father, the late Lee Kuan Yew, and commended the country’s transformation from an uncertain, resource-scarce beginning into a thriving global powerhouse.
The President highlighted Singapore as a profound inspiration and a model of good governance, efficiency, and progress for fellow small island nations like Timor-Leste.
Emphasizing the deep bonds between the two nations, President Ramos-Horta expressed profound gratitude for Singapore’s steadfast support as a “trustworthy SEA-bling.”
The President recalled Singapore’s historic deployment of over 1,000 peacekeeping personnel in 1999—the largest in its history—and commended its leading role in facilitating Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession.
Through the Singapore Cooperation Programme and capacity-building initiatives like STARS and eSTARS, the President noted that Singapore has invested heavily in Timor-Leste’s future, having already trained over 1,300 Timorese officials in governance, public administration, and ASEAN-related skills.
The President also celebrated the vibrant economic and people-to-people exchanges, acknowledging the invaluable contributions of the Singaporean diaspora and private sector to Timor-Leste’s health, education, and tourism sectors.
Reflecting on recent major diplomatic milestones—including the arrival of Ambassador Cheng as the first resident ambassador and the awarding of the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste to Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong last month.
President Ramos-Horta invited further Singaporean investment. The Head of State concluded the evening by congratulating the people of Singapore on their milestone and wishing for the continuous strengthening of the enduring friendship between the two nations.
TATOLI
