Philippines, 04 May 2026

The Office of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, through the Coordinator of Strategy Unit of Economic Integration (SUEI), represented by Leonito Soares de Jesus, participated in the International Competition Network (ICN) Annual Conference 2026 held in the Philippines from 5–8 May 2026.
The conference brought together competition authorities, policymakers, and experts from around the world to exchange best practices and strengthen cooperation in promoting fair and competitive markets for sustainable economic development.

Timor-Leste’s participation marks a key milestone in strengthening economic governance and advancing a transparent and competitive business environment. It follows the recent approval of the Timor-Leste Competition Law, developed with support from UNCTAD, and supports ongoing preparations for the establishment of a national competition authority.
During the conference, the representative of MCAE held bilateral meetings with senior officials and delegations from Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Guatemala, Gambia, Aruba, Fiji, and Bangladesh, as well as global competition policy experts.

“It is a great honor to represent Timor-Leste at the ICN for the first time. This platform allows us to share our progress on the Competition Law and our preparations to establish a national competition authority, while learning from international best practices,” said the SUEI/MCAE representative.
As a new member of ASEAN and the World Trade Organization (WTO), Timor-Leste continues to strengthen its integration into the regional and global economy, demonstrating its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development through stronger institutions and international cooperation.