Timor-Leste, Australia launch Investment Prospectuses for Tourism, Agriculture and Renewable Energy
DÍLI, 24 September 2026 (TATOLI) – The Governments of Timor-Leste and Australia today launched three investment prospectuses under Invest Timor-Leste 2026, setting out opportunities for investors in tourism, agriculture and renewable energy as Timor-Leste enters its first full year as a member of ASEAN.
Invest Timor-Leste 2026 aims to promote two-way trade and investment between Timor-Leste and Australia. It is supported by the Australian Government, in partnership with Timor-Leste’s Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, TradeInvest Timor-Leste, and the Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The investment prospectuses were launched by Timor-Leste’s Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, and the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson, at a bilateral meeting in Dili on 22 September 2026.
Each investment prospectus highlights the current state of the sector, the policy and regulatory environment, investments already underway to support growth, and the specific opportunities available to investors. They were prepared jointly by the Invest Timor-Leste 2026 partners, drawing on consultation with Timorese government agencies and the private sector.
Timor-Leste joined ASEAN in October 2025 and is preparing to chair in 2029. Together with WTO accession in 2024, Timor-Leste’ membership provides greater access to a market of more than 680 million people and positions the country as Southeast Asia’s newest market for Australian investors, 75 minutes by air from Darwin.
The investment prospectuses are released as major public and private investment is shaping the business environment in Timor-Leste. In tourism, a US$300 million upgrade of the Dili International Airport is underway, five airlines now operate more than 30 international services a week, and the country’s first international submarine cable entered service in July 2026. In renewable energy, construction has begun on a 72 MW solar plant with battery storage at Manatuto, representing US$85.6 million in private investment. The new deep-water port at Tibar Bay opens export pathways for agricultural value chains.
The Vice Prime Minister said the prospectuses set out Timor-Leste’s investment priorities in practical terms: “These prospectuses show investors where the opportunities are, what the rules are and what support is available. Our accession to ASEAN has widened our market and strengthened confidence in our economy, and in 2029 we will chair ASEAN. Australia is one of our closest neighbours and a natural partner in tourism, agriculture and renewable energy.”
Ambassador Wilson said the prospectuses give investors a clear starting point: “As Timor-Leste integrates into ASEAN and opportunities emerge, these prospectuses help to provide relevant and up-to-date information about investment opportunities in Timor-Leste. They are the product of Timor-Leste and Australia working together. The Australian Government is pleased to support these documents as part of Invest Timor-Leste 2026. With Timor-Leste now in ASEAN, the case for Australian businesses to engage early and build on the existing momentum is stronger than ever.”
The prospectuses will be made available to delegates and the wider business community ahead of Invest Timor-Leste 2026. The event will bring together Timorese and Australian businesses and government counterparts through plenary discussions, facilitated business-to-government roundtables on tourism, agriculture and renewable energy, and business matching.
Details about Invest Timor-Leste 2026 are available at www.investtl.com. Attendance at Invest Timor-Leste 2026 is by invitation only, however interest can be registered via email to InvestTL@prosivu.tl
TATOLI
