l Adib Noor l
Since attaining independence in May 2002, Timor-Leste has adopted a forward-looking policy goal to further develop the small nation and foster bilateral relations and cooperation.
This was shared by the Ambassador of Timor-Leste in Brunei Darussalam Abel Guterres during the embassy’s celebration of Timor-Leste’s 47th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence and the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam recently at the Mulia Hotel in Anggerek Desa.
“Since the proclamation of our independence in 1975, Timor-Leste faced many challenges in its 47-year history. As a small country, we were born during the height of the cold war that experienced intense East-West rivalry in the tassel of superpower sphere of influence. As such, Timor-Leste suffered as a result of collateral damage.” the Ambassador.
“Since the restoration of our independence on May 20, 2002, Timor-Leste has adopted a forward-looking policy in establishing and developing international relations and cooperation. Nationally, we successfully established a truth and reconciliation commission process that reunited our people. Considering our mutual checkered history, Timor-Leste and Indonesia established a truth and friendship commission process. Today, the two countries now proudly enjoy excellent bilateral relations at the highest levels including friendship and cooperation at both the government and people-to-people level, that is equal to none,” he added.
Timor-Leste is a Southeast Asian nation bordering Indonesia and also neighbours Australia with a population of 1.3 million people, the second smallest population in Southeast Asia, after Brunei. It has one of the youngest populations in the world with approximately 50% of the population being of ages 18 years and below. The people of Timor-Leste speak up to 4 languages namely, Portuguese, Tetun, Bahasa Indonesia, and English
The Ambassador continued to state that as of August 2022, both Timor-Leste and Brunei’s ministers of transport and communications signed the historic Air Services Agreement between the two countries.
“This will allow direct air services connectivity between our two countries to support each other as a strategic airline transit hub between especially China, India as well as ASEAN countries to travel more conveniently and more affordably with other countries from Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific islands through Brunei and Timor-Leste,” he said.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Timor-Leste had already engaged Royal Brunei Airlines in collaboration for air connectivity between the two countries, including the training of personnel for a future Timor-Leste national airline.
“The establishment of direct flights between our two countries will only further enhance our already strong relations and we look forward to this collaboration in the near future,” he said.
In terms of maritime logistics and trade is concerned, The Timor-Leste government signed an agreement to establish one of the largest foreign direct investments (FDI) in the country with over USD$500 million invested by the French conglomerate, Bollore to build the largest deep water port in the country equipped with the latest state of the art equipment and technology. The new port, called Tibar Port will be able to handle 350 thousand TEU annually and 1 million container shipments a year.
The Ambassador shared that Timor-Leste has a geographical location that is highly strategic and with the completion of the new mega port, Timor-Leste has huge potential in being a logistics trans-shipment hub between Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
Tourism is also a key pillar identified in the Timor-Leste strategic development plan 2011-2030. Timor-Leste is blessed with beautiful white sand beaches, pristine clear waters, lush green flora, and the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world.
“As of last week, Timor-Leste just saw the official launch of a historic investment from Singapore investors worth nearly one billion US dollars to develop a major hotel resort that is expected to transform the tourism landscape in the country. This major investment is expected to provide more than 1,000 additional hotel rooms to accommodate the projected meteoric growth in tourist visitors in the country over the coming years,” said the Ambassador.
After years of challenges, the ambassador said that Timor-Leste is set for a brighter future in the coming years to come.
