DILI, 08 June 2026 (TATOLI) — Timor-Leste on Tuesday launched the 9th National Skills Competition and the 2nd Timor-Leste International Friendly Skills Competition, bringing together young competitors from eight countries in a bid to strengthen technical and vocational education, improve workforce competitiveness and deepen regional cooperation in skills development.
Held from 7 to 9 July 2026 under the theme, “Mastering Skills, Building the Future,” the competitions were organised by the National Institute for Workforce Development, Public Institute (INDMO, I.P.), and brought together participants from Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The event aims to promote excellence in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), strengthen the link between training institutions and industry, and provide young people with opportunities to demonstrate their skills at national and international levels.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Francisco Kalbuadi Lay said the competitions help equip young people with technical skills, boost their confidence, encourage innovation and prepare them for employment at home and abroad.
“Investing in human resources is a crucial step towards building a stronger Timor-Leste. Skills training and technical and vocational education are essential pillars of the country’s national development plan,” Kalbuadi Lay said.
He said technical skills play a vital role in creating jobs and supporting the growth of key sectors, including tourism, hospitality, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and industry.
This year’s competition focuses on four priority trades: electrical installation, cooking, restaurant service and welding, reflecting the country’s workforce needs and economic development priorities.
Kalbuadi Lay also called on the private sector and development partners to continue investing in Timor-Leste by supporting knowledge transfer, youth training and employment opportunities for the national workforce.
He said the participation of delegations from ASEAN member states and Pacific countries reflects Timor-Leste’s growing role as a regional platform for skills development cooperation.
“Timor-Leste is sending a clear message that it is ready to invest in skills, attract responsible investment and prepare young people for skilled employment, entrepreneurship and safe labour mobility,” he said.
The deputy prime minister added that labour mobility should be built on certified skills, professionalism and dignity, stressing that young people need not only technical expertise but also communication skills, workplace safety knowledge and professional attitudes.
INDMO Executive Director Isabel Fernandes de Lima said the competition represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen the quality of technical and vocational education and training in Timor-Leste.
“This event is more than the opening of a competition. It is a celebration of young people’s talent, professional excellence, national pride and international cooperation in skills development,” she said.
She said the initiative forms part of INDMO’s broader efforts to strengthen competency standards, accreditation and certification systems, and improve the quality of vocational training nationwide.
Australia also reaffirmed its support for Timor-Leste’s technical and vocational education sector through the Pacific Australia Skills Timor-Leste programme.
Fabia Shah, Counsellor for Governance and Economic Affairs at the Australian Embassy in Timor-Leste, said the competition provides an important platform for participants, trainers, technical education officials, government representatives, industry leaders and experts from Southeast Asia and the Pacific to exchange knowledge and experience.
Shah said what makes the event special is not only the competition itself but also the skills it promotes and the opportunity it provides to bring together people from across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, whom she described as one large family united by skills.
She added that the participation of competitors from across the region underscores the growing importance of skills development in driving regional economic growth, particularly following Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN.
According to Shah, Australia’s support is delivered under the Partnership for a New Era, launched in January 2026 by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, which prioritises investment in education, skills development and job creation.
Journalist: Arminda Fonseca
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
Translator: Afonso do Rosário
