Improving Timor-Leste’s negotiation skills for integration into ASEAN « Government of Timor-Leste

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), in collaboration with the Partnership for Inclusive Prosperity Australia (PROSIVU) project, is organizing a training workshop on “Timor-Leste’s Accession and Integration into the ASEAN Economic Community – Negotiations, Business and Investment” from 24 to 28 June 2024 at Hotel Novo Turismo, Dili, Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste is preparing to join various agreements, protocols and legal frameworks within ASEAN, including the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). These include compliance with market access requirements for goods, services, movement of people and investment. To support these efforts, MNEC, as the coordinating ministry for ASEAN members, in conjunction with Australia’s PROSIVU project, organized a five-day intensive training workshop for government officials from relevant ministries, as well as negotiators and technical staff on business and investment negotiations. The training workshop will enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in developing market access timetables for Timor-Leste in ASEAN, and help them prepare for meaningful discussions and negotiations on these timetables with ASEAN member states.

Milena Rangel, Deputy Minister for ASEAN Affairs, said, “Timor-Leste is fully committed to becoming a full member of ASEAN and ensuring that it has sufficient capacity to deliver on ASEAN’s commitments to achieve regional integration goals. As we begin to develop our market access timelines as required by the roadmap, this ASEAN Trade and Investment Negotiations Training Workshop is very timely and will provide the government with the skills needed to prepare the timelines for a successful negotiation process with ASEAN.”

At the same event, Australian Deputy Head of Mission Suzy Wilson-Ulelea said, “An essential part of joining ASEAN is negotiating, signing and implementing key legal instruments to achieve the best business and economic outcomes for Timor-Leste. Australia remains committed to supporting Timor-Leste’s accession process and looks forward to continuing to support the Government of Timor-Leste in its accession and integration process into ASEAN.”