Business beyond borders: Timorese entrepreneurs in focus at the 2025 Timor-Leste Australia Economic and Business Conference.
The Timor-Leste Australia Economic and Business Conference 2025 (TLAUCON2025) was more than just a platform for sharing business experiences. It was a bridge, connecting Timorese and Australian businesspeople, and strengthening economic ties between the two nations. For three panelists of TLAUCON2025: Claudia Ximenes, Anas Madeira, and Daniel Leong, it was an opportunity to build connections, grow their businesses, and receive long overdue recognition for their success as entrepreneurs.
Claudia Ximenes, owner of Vera Juice and founder of Milrex Rego Unipessoal
For Claudia Ximenes, founder of Vera Juice, TLAUCON2025 was a golden opportunity to connect with Australian businesses and explore new markets. Through TLAUCON, she was able to connect with Pacific Islands International, an Australian supply company.
“We explored the possibility of exporting Vera Juice in the future, one of my biggest business activities, not only to Australia but also to other Pacific islands,” she said.
Claudia acknowledges the hard work ahead, which include the need to secure certifications and – given that most fruits in Timor-Leste are seasonal – ensure consistent production.
Claudia was confident that participating in TLAUCON25 would be a valuable opportunity to develop her business. At last year’s event, with the help of Austrade, she was able to forge a connection with Blackwoods, an Australian supply company.
“I was able to form a partnership with Blackwoods to supply Personal Protective Equipment to the Bayu Undan project. We have already signed the agreement, and now we are working together,” she said.
While Claudia is looking towards new markets, other TLAUCON25 participants, such as Anas Madeira and Daniel Leong, are focused on strengthening and expanding existing connections.
Anas Madeira is founder of Dili Dirt Bike, an adventure tourism company offering motorbike tours across Timor-Leste. He’s been attracting mostly Australian tourists since his business launched in 2022.
“We take people off-road to explore Timor-Leste’s mountains, coffee regions, and villages,” he said.
Dili Dirt Bike has also been building partnerships with Australian adventure tour operators, who are beginning to include Timor-Leste in their itineraries.
TLAUCON2025 facilitated a connection for Anas with several potential partners, including 00Seven Adventure, an Australian jet ski tour operator based in Darwin.
“We discussed opportunities to collaborate in the future, particularly how to include Timor-Leste’s motorbike tours in 00Seven’s tour packages,” he explained. The potential collaboration could offer combined land-and-sea adventure experiences for tourists in both Australia and Timor-Leste.
Anas Madeira, founder of Dili Dirt Bike and co-founder of Timor Unearthed
Daniel Leong, Director of Orijem Cafe Timor and President Assosiasaun Cafe Timor (ACT)
Daniel Leong is Director of Orijem Timor Coffee, a company which produces and exports specialty coffee from Timor-Leste. Daniel has been engaged with the Australian market since founding the company in 2021.
“Our specialty green coffees, such as Regional Wash and 5D Anaerobic Natural, are now regularly exported to Australia, as well as to Japan and Indonesia,” he said.
Daniel’s business has grown considerably through a collaboration with 1LM, an Australian consultancy firm based in Canberra, which provided guidance on business development, organisational strategy, and community engagement.
Daniel highlighted the value of TLAUCON2025 as a platform for building business connections.
“It was great to meet individuals who visited Dili and already advocate for quality coffee, as well as Timor-Leste’s heritage and culture, in Australia,” he said.
Claudia, Anas, and Daniel showcased the innovation, ambition and resilience of a new wave of Timorese entrepreneurs. Their stories are more than individual successes; they are proof of what is possible in Timor-Leste when innovation meets determination. By building businesses that create jobs and drive growth, they are helping to shape a stronger, more prosperous future for the nation.