A Collaborative Journey in Achieving Timor-Leste’s WTO Membership
Timor-Leste achieved a significant milestone by officially signing its World Trade Organization (WTO) accession package on February 26, 2024, during the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This achievement, crucial for Timor-Leste’s international trade and economic growth, was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the Government of Timor-Leste’s technical working group for WTO accession.
Decio Ribeiro Sarmento, Director of Export Promotion Trade Invest Timor-Leste
Decio Ribeiro Sarmento, the Director of Export Promotion at TradeInvest Timor-Leste, and Joanita Da Costa Jong, the National Director of Livestock and Veterinary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), are two integral members of this working group. They, along with their team, worked tirelessly to prepare the necessary documents and legislation for Timor-Leste’s WTO membership.
Director Decio’s involvement in Timor-Leste’s WTO journey began in 2017, after Timor-Leste became an observer member in late 2016. Reflecting on the negotiation process to prepare Timor-Leste for a better future, he shared: “We consider this process an opportunity to not isolate ourselves from other countries. We need to interact and improve our country, especially in trade activities.”
Director Joanita joined the technical working group in 2020. She emphasised the importance of high-level working party meetings where 164 member countries reviewed Timor-Leste’s legislation and fiscal documents. She highlighted the importance of MAF’s representation in these negotiations to ensure the trade is of a high quality and safe. “We are entering a free market, and we must ensure that the products entering and leaving our country are safe and follow international standards.”
During seven years of negotiations, Timor-Leste engaged in multilateral, bilateral, and plurilateral negotiations, concluding seven high level working party meetings and signing bilateral market access agreements with ten member states, including major neighbours Australia and Indonesia.
The technical advisory provided by Australia’s PROSIVU program greatly supported the efforts of Directors Decio and Joanita during the WTO accession process.
Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong, National Director of Livestock and Veterinary Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoF)
The PROSIVU program’s technical advisory team, Maria da Silva, Leoneto De Jesus, Jorginha Martins and Renato da Costa
Both directors acknowledged the indispensable role of PROSIVU’s expert team who are working in the Office of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, including economists like Maria da Silva and Leoneto de Jesus, legal expert Jorginha Martins, and communication specialist Renato da Costa, in coordinating efforts among ministries and agencies.
PROSIVU, an Australian-funded program, aims to support Timor-Leste’s social and development goals by strengthening economic development and improving public service delivery. It contributes significantly to Timor-Leste’s progress in regional and international trade integration by supporting Timor-Leste’s accession to the WTO and ASEAN.