Technical Meeting with the Lao PDR Delegation at the ASEAN Summit in Bali

Bali, 24 August 2023.

The Timor-Leste delegation, in a technical meeting represented by Eng. Leovogildo Belarmino (Chief of the Staffs, Cooperative Advisor and External Relations) and his team on behalf of the Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECoop) met with the delegation from Lao PDR Mr. Vannaseng, the General Director of SMEs to discuss about Timor-Leste’s participation in the ASEAN Summit and other related programme that will take place in the Lao PDR in 2024.

In the meeting, Timor-Leste asked guidance on how to prepare ourselves in participating the pertinent activities related economic issue, include ASEAN Economic Forum, ASEAN Inclusive Business, Technical meetings on the Circular Economy for Unique Business Identification Number and so forth that applied to all member states to comply.

In this occasion, Mr. Vannaseng said that Lao PDR is ready to provide support to Timor-Leste, especially in relation to “information exchange” on the preparation of technical level meetings linked to economic issues, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This will ensure the involvement of all ASEAN member countries on creation, production and promotion of business for the sustainability of each member country’s economy at national and regional level.

Likewise Lao PDR as a member of the new ASEAN member’s cooperation such as Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) that requires specific programmes and services to be familiarized with related issues, including legal framework and cooperation agreements, technical economic agreements and others adopted within the ASEAN. So, TL could be taking part when already approved as a full member.

The Director also added that Lao PDR is a small country in Southeast Asia, geographically around 80% of the mountains and 20% of the flat area, almost 80% of the population are engaged in agriculture and small farming activities and more than 50% don’t have ability to compete at the domestic, national and regional levels.

At the same time, the delegation of Timor-Leste also highlighted that Lao PDR and Timor-Leste have almost the same issues as mentioned. Therefore “we ask for support from Laos, especially how to guide us, share experiences and other preparations in order that Timor-Leste could prepare itself in the process of accession to become a full member of ASEAN.” In addition, Timor-Leste’s willingness to engage in related issues, especially in the areas of cooperatives for micro, small and medium-sized businesses should be enhanced between two countries. Mr. Belarmino said.

In this meeting, Lao PDR and Timor-Leste to continue keep in touch with relevant information, particularly we need to set up a team to do effective communication in relation to Small and Medium Enterprises for our preparation to involve in several meetings that will be hosted by Lao PDR by next year. *KA*

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