The Office of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (MCAE), represented by Interim General Coordinator Leonito Soares de Jesus, held a bilateral meeting with a delegation from the United States poultry industry, led by representatives of the U.S. Poultry Export Council. The meeting took place at Pavilion II, CCD, Dili.
This engagement reflects MCAE’s continued efforts to expand international trade partnerships and promote private sector collaboration following Timor-Leste’s integration into the global trading system, including its accession to the World Trade Organization.
The main objective of the meeting was to strengthen bilateral trade relations and explore concrete cooperation opportunities in the poultry sector.
Representatives also attended the meeting from public institutions, including TradeInvest Timor-Leste, SERVE, I.P., AIFAESA, and IQTL. Their participation ensured that discussions covered key areas such as investment facilitation, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and food safety standards.
In his remarks, Leonito Soares de Jesus emphasized the importance of dialogue:
“MCAE values this opportunity to strengthen cooperation with partners from the U.S. poultry sector. This engagement supports broader objectives to ensure reliable supply, improve market standards, and attract investment in Timor-Leste’s agribusiness sector.”
Key discussion areas included:
• Market Access and Trade Facilitation: Exploring mechanisms to streamline poultry imports and improve market efficiency;
• Quality Standards and Food Safety: Ensuring compliance with international standards and strengthening regulatory frameworks;
• Supply Chain Reliability: Assessing the capacity of U.S. producers to supply consistent, high-quality poultry products to Timor-Leste.
The U.S. delegation highlighted its global production capacity, advanced processing standards, and competitive pricing, expressing strong interest in establishing long-term commercial partnerships in Timor-Leste.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to maintaining close communication and continuing discussions to translate these opportunities into concrete trade and investment outcomes.
Poultry farming refers to the technique and activity of raising domestic birds for consumption or commercial purposes, using technology from production to distribution.