Díli: 03 December 2025
AIFAESA, I.P. hosted a two-day National Seminar focused on regulatory reform and Timor-Leste’s post-accession commitments to the WTO and ASEAN. The event brought together senior government representatives, public institutions, academic communities, and key stakeholders to discuss the country’s readiness for regional and global market integration.
Speaking at the opening session, the General Coordinator of MCAE Jorge Rui de Carvalho Martins, described Timor-Leste’s accession to the WTO as both “a source of pride and a challenge”, noting the ongoing public debate around its benefits.
He reiterated three core messages such as The significance of Timor-Leste’s accession to the WTO; The implications for national businesses and market access and the IX Constitutional Government’s efforts to address post-accession challenges.
Timor-Leste became a full WTO member on 30 August 2024, joining a rules-based global trading system designed to strengthen trade, investment, and private sector development. He also highlighted the Strategic Vision for Post-Accession (VEPA)—approved on 29 April 2024—as the Government’s roadmap for integrating into 165 country global markets.
The Inspector-General of AIFAESA underscored the importance of creating stable and permanent careers for civil servants, emphasizing that institutional strength requires long-term investment in human capital.
“Transforming contracted workers into permanent staff is an investment in the sustainability of public institutions and the quality of services we provide,” he stated.
The seminar, jointly organized with TradeInvest Timor-Leste, serves as a national call to prepare for the reforms required in the post-accession phase to both ASEAN and the WTO.
Participants included the Vice Minister for Hospital Operationalization, Dr. Flávio Brandão Mendes de Araújo, representatives from the Civil Service Commission (CFP), PDHJ (Dr. Rigoberto Monteiro), public institutions (I.P. and E.P.), university students, and officials from relevant ministries.
