G—NEWS (DILI) — The EU project “Support to Regional Integration and Trade in Timor-Leste”, implemented by the International Trade Centre, is organising a workshop at MNEC to validate Timor-Leste Market Access Offer on Services for the ASEAN accession. This document is crucial to further advance with the negotiations on services and investment, which are conditions to join the main ASEAN economic agreements.
The European Union (EU) is providing support to the Government and specifically to the Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs through the project “Support to Regional Integration and Trade in Timor-Leste”, implemented by the International Trade Centre.
This project is conducting a workshop from 20 February to 25 February 2025 to validate Timor-Leste’s Market Access Offer on Services for the ASEAN accession, before introducing it to the Council of Ministers, and for the drafting of Timor-Leste’s ASEAN ACIA reservation Lists, that are essential documents for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership to ASEAN. The support provided includes hands-on technical expertise and all the logistical supports required to achieve Timor-Leste’s development objectives.
The assistance provided by the project is fully aligned with Timor-Leste IX Constitutional Government’s “Commitment to the Future”, emphasizing Timor-Leste’s aspirations for Full Membership of ASEAN. With the support of this project, the Government of Timor-Leste receives technical assistance and support to achieve the criteria and the milestones identified in the Roadmap for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership to ASEAN. This workshop will contribute to further advance with the negotiations on services and investment, which are conditions to join two of the main ASEAN economic agreements, namely the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) and the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA).
The submission of the Market Access Offer on Services will follow the recent submission of Timor-Leste’s Market Access Offer on Goods, whose draft was also supported by the project and marked a significant progression towards the accession to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) the third of the main ASEAN economic agreements.
The successful completion of the negotiations on these three agreements with all ASEAN Member States is a condition for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership to the Organization, which, as indicated by the Government, is considered as a “critical pillar of the Government’s strategy” to accelerate its economic diversification agenda, positioning the nation to leverage the economic opportunities presented by ASEAN’s dynamic market.
The full Membership to ASEAN, which Timor-Leste aims to achieve in 2025, implies challenges but also a unique opportunity to boost Foreign Direct Investment from the ASEAN region, which has a GDP of USD3.6 trillion and a total population of over 650 million people.
The European Union remains committed to support the Government of Timor-Leste to unlock new avenues of growth and development, ensuring a prosperous future for all Timorese citizens.
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