DILI, 02 May 2025 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, together with local authorities, and local communities celebrated the 166th anniversary of Baucau Municipality.
On this momentous occasion, Baucau, home to a majority Makasae-speaking population, celebrated its rich history and culture.
The celebration of the anniversary of the municipality, which is home to 134,000 people, was held at the Baucau Convention Center (BCC) on Thursday.
During the ceremony, the Head of State congratulated local authorities for their extraordinary work in developing the region, emphasizing the importance of municipal development for Timor-Leste’s future.
President Horta highlighted Baucau’s strong tourism potential, suggesting the municipality could host international events that have traditionally been held only in the capital city of Dili.
“Baucau’s potential for tourism is very strong and can be promoted through these activities,” he said.
Following the opening ceremony, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate visited a fair showcasing locally-made products from Baucau, which he noted have significant potential to contribute to the region’s economic development.
Baucau is located on the eastern part of the country, around 122 km of Dili. It is the second biggest city of the country with a population of 111.694 inhabitants (Census 2010) and an area of 1.494 km². The capital of the district is also named Baucau.
During the Portuguese colonization, it was called Vila Salazar, after the Portuguese dictator.
The tunnels in the Administrative Post of Venilale are a legacy of the Japanese occupation during the Second World War.
The main economic activity of Baucau is agriculture (corn, rice, peanut, coconut and horticultural crops).
Baucau offers a wide coastline with attractive beaches, ideal for swimming and other water sports. In addition to the official languages of the country (Tetun and Portuguese), the majority of the population speaks Macassai.
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