DILI, Timor-Leste (TATOLI) — The Council of Ministers reviewed the progress of Timor-Leste in the process of accession to ASEAN service agreements, namely the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA).
The update on Timor-Leste’s progress toward accession to the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) was presented by Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel, during the Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday.
During the 110th Coordinating Committee on Services (CCS) meeting, held in June 2025 in Laos, ASEAN assessed Timor-Leste’s Schedule of Commitments (SoC) under these agreements.
The evaluation identified the need to adjust 20 subsectors under Mode 3 (commercial presence) to meet the minimum market access requirements of AFAS. To date, Timor-Leste has already aligned with 306 of the 326 required subsectors, marking significant progress toward full compliance.
At the 110th ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Services (CCS) Meeting, one of the key agenda items was to discuss Timor-Leste’s Schedules of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and the ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons (MNP), which is a critical step in the country’s journey toward ASEAN accession.
In response, the Council of Ministers mandated Vice-Minister Rangel to lead negotiations on the necessary technical adjustments to the SoC, in coordination with relevant government ministries.
This step is considered critical for Timor-Leste to achieve full membership in ASEAN’s regional services framework by 2036, in accordance with the integration timeline set for Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar (CLM countries).
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
