The Ministry of Coordinating Economic Affairs (MCAE) of Timor-Leste plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s economic landscape. As of May 2025, the Vice Prime Minister, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, serves as the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, overseeing a broad portfolio aimed at fostering sustainable economic development. His responsibilities encompass coordinating policies across various sectors, including trade, industry, tourism, agriculture, and labor

Key Functions and Responsibilities

  • Policy Coordination and Implementation: MCAE is tasked with designing, implementing, and evaluating public policies that enhance economic governance and service delivery to citizens.
  • Investment Promotion: The ministry works to attract both domestic and foreign investments, aiming to diversify the economy beyond its reliance on the oil sector. This includes initiatives like the “Timor-Leste Trade and Investment Forum,” held in December 2024, which focused on promoting productive sectors and fostering investor confidence
  • Regional and International Integration: MCAE plays a central role in Timor-Leste’s efforts to integrate into regional and global economic frameworks. The ministry has been instrumental in the country’s accession processes to both the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). For instance, in July 2022, MCAE organized a high-level conference to discuss maximizing benefits from ASEAN and WTO accessions as pathways to achieving 2030 development goals
  • Sectoral Development and Employment: The ministry is responsible for promoting job creation, vocational training, and the development of the cooperative sector, particularly in rural areas. This involves coordinating with other ministries to implement policies that support industry growth and employment opportunities

Strategic Initiatives

Private Sector Engagement: Through initiatives like the “Timor-Leste Trade and Investment Forum,” MCAE fosters dialogue between the government and the private sector to identify opportunities for economic growth and development

WTO Accession: MCAE has been actively engaged in preparing Timor-Leste for its membership in the WTO, organizing inter-ministerial meetings to align national policies with international trade standards .

ASEAN Accession: In collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, MCAE has presented priority programs to international development partners to support Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership, emphasizing the importance of aligning with ASEAN’s three pillars: Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Communities .

Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Coordinator for Economic Affairs – Sri Dato Francisco Kalbuady Lay

The Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and the Environment The Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and the Environment assists the Prime Minister in coordinating and supervising the Government members responsible for implementing policies for economic areas of governance, namely the Ministry of Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Tourism and Environment; the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry; the Ministry of Transport and Communications; the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment; the Secretary of State for Cooperatives. It is also responsible for designing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating policies, defined and approved by the Council of Ministers for Tourism and the Environment.