Chinese briefing by TL in Beijing1 Aug 2024 10:47
Timor-Leste holds Business Forum in Beijing to promote investment opportunities
Tue, July 30, 2024, 5:08 PM
On July 30, 2024, Timor-Leste hosted a Business Forum on Investment Opportunities in Beijing, China, with the aim of showcasing and exploring business opportunities in the country. The event was attended by nearly 200 representatives from the Chinese public and private sectors and focused on strengthening bilateral relations and attracting Chinese investment. The forum was chaired by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister for Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay. Also participating were the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China, Maubere Lorosae da Silva Horta, among other government officials and representatives of national entities. During the event, the strong 22-year-old relations between Timor-Leste and China were highlighted, as well as China’s position as a global and regional power. President Ramos-Horta emphasized the importance of improving conditions for investment, with a special focus on the development of investment protection laws. In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay thanked the Chinese Government and participating companies for their interest in exploring investment opportunities in Timor-Leste. “The relationship between Timor-Leste and China goes beyond diplomacy, we have a history of friendship and deep cooperation. We are committed to creating a favorable environment for investment that benefits both countries,” said Kalbuadi Lay. The event also served as a platform to showcase various investment opportunities in Timor-Leste, covering sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture and tourism. The Timorese delegation highlighted the country’s strategic location, its young workforce and natural resources as key advantages for potential investors. Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco Monteiro, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Livestock, Marcos da Cruz, invited Chinese companies to invest in sectors such as oil, gas and metal minerals, as well as in the agricultural sector. Francisco Monteiro emphasized the opportunities in the minerals sector, highlighting strategic minerals such as lithium and nickel, used in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and other essential industries. The Governor also presented the 'Tasi Mane' project, a long-term strategic project, which aims to create key infrastructures to facilitate the development of the oil and gas industry, a sector with great potential in Timor-Leste both onshore and offshore.