Timor-Leste’s accession to Asean represents the 23-year-old nation’s completion of its long journey to independence, says its envoy Natércia Cipriano Coelho da Silva.
The country’s permanent ambassador to Asean said celebrations have been taking place in its capital Dili and beyond since Timor-Leste was accepted into Asean as a full member on Oct 26.
“It is the final closing of a chapter of our independence and sovereignty. We gained independence in 2002 but we were not part of the regional family. But on Oct 26, we finally closed the chapter,” she said during an event at the 9th Asean Media Forum 2025 here.
Coelho da Silva also said the Timor-Leste government is accelerating its institutional development to ensure its participation in Asean is equal with other member states.
“Timor-Leste hopes to bring to the table its distinct experience in building democratic government and peace reconciliation, which complements Asean’s rules-based and people-centred community.
“Our youthful population and growing private sector will also open new avenues in trade and innovation,” she said.
Coelho da Silva said Timor-Leste is also diversifying its economy to move away from being overly dependent on oil and gas resources, and seeking to expand its tourism sector.
She also called on Asean investors to consider investing in Timor-Leste’s fishing industry, being largely untapped for business opportunities.
Coelho da Silva noted Timor-Leste lacked the proper industry infrastructure for fishery despite being an island surrounded by abundant marine resources, and expressed hope that proper development would help with curbing illegal fishing.
Joanne Lin, a senior fellow and Asean Studies Centre coordinator at Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, urged Timor-Leste to establish a comprehensive legal system and infrastructure to attract foreign direct investment.
“The nation will need to ease the establishment of businesses. It is also important to have human resource development such as technical and vocational training,” she said.
Arividya Arimuthu, a senior fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, also said it is equally important for Asean member states to help Timor-Leste in their own unique ways while expecting it to contribute.
“There are best practices in Asean we can share with Timor-Leste, whether they are the lessons we have learned in diversifying our economies, or how Singapore went from a manufacturing base to a services-driven economy,” she said.
Timor-Leste became the Southeast Asian bloc’s 11th member after signing the declaration of accession at the 47th Asean Summit on Oct 26.
The young nation first applied for Asean membership in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022. Since then, it has taken part in key Asean meetings while working to align its national frameworks with the bloc’s political, economic and socio-cultural pillars.
