DILI, 30 June 2026 (TATOLI) — Timor-Leste and Portugal have signed two cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening collaboration in electoral administration, administrative simplification and public sector modernization, marking another step in the two countries’ longstanding partnership on governance and institutional development.
The agreements were signed on June 29 during separate meetings in Lisbon between Timor-Leste’s Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, Portugal’s Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, and Minister for State Reform, Gonçalo Matias.
During a meeting between Minister Cabral and Minister Neves, attended by Portugal’s Secretary of State for Internal Administration, Paulo Simões Ribeiro, and Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Rui Rocha, the two sides reaffirmed the close friendship, mutual trust and longstanding cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal.
Cabral outlined Timor-Leste’s ongoing efforts to reform its electoral legal framework, saying the government is working to modernize the country’s electoral system, make it more inclusive and align it with international best practices.
He also highlighted Portugal’s extensive experience in administering elections and expressed interest in expanding technical cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a cooperation protocol on the administration, organization and management of electoral processes. The agreement establishes a framework for sharing technical expertise, strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing cooperation in electoral governance.
Later the same day, Cabral met with Minister Matias, where the two ministers signed a cooperation protocol focused on administrative simplification and the modernization of public administration.
The discussions centered on exchanging experiences in administrative simplification, integrated public service delivery and digital transformation.
Both sides also identified areas for future cooperation aimed at improving the efficiency of public administration, expanding citizens’ access to government services and strengthening the institutional capacity of agencies responsible for administrative reform.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to implementing both agreements through the exchange of best practices, technical cooperation and joint initiatives intended to modernize public administration and reinforce institutional capacity in both countries.
The meetings and signing ceremonies were witnessed by Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Portugal, Manuel António Araújo Serrano, representatives of the Timorese Embassy in Lisbon and members of the delegation from Timor-Leste’s Ministry of State Administration.
TATOLI
