In line with the Embassy’s unwavering commitment to further enhance the economic partnership between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, Philippine Ambassador to Timor-Leste Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia called on Mentoring Minister and Minister for Planning and Strategic Investment Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão on January 28.

During the meeting, Ambassador Austria-Garcia briefed the Minister on the outcomes of the networking meetings of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Hernani F. Coêlho da Silva with the Philippine private sector when the latter visited the Philippines in December 2015.

For his part, Minister Gusmão underscored that Timor-Leste welcomes Philippine private sector participation in practically all areas relevant to the country’s development. He also provided substantive inputs on how the proposed initiatives of Filipino entrepreneurs, who are interested to do business in Timor-Leste, could be brought to fruition. The areas of interest cited were health, education, agri-industry, finance, and air transport, among others.

Minister Gusmão is the first President and later Prime Minister of Timor-Leste. In the incumbent coalition government, he has been tasked to head the central government body responsible for the design, execution, coordination and evaluation of policy for the promotion of Timor-Leste’s economic and social development.

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