Dili, October 20, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) received a courtesy visit from employers from New Zealand and the representative of the New Zealand Embassy in Timor-Leste to discuss the progress of bilateral cooperation between Timor-Leste and New Zealand for the future.
In an interview, SEFOPE’s Director General, Carlito do Rosario Cabral, stated that SEFOPE received a courtesy visit today from New Zealand employers. The purpose of the visit was to hold a meeting with the first delegation from New Zealand representing both the Government and employers, accompanied as well by the New Zealand Ambassador to Timor-Leste. This is their first time visiting SEFOPE directly to observe the working conditions and training facilities.
“This is their first visit to observe our conditions and all preparations for future cooperation, prioritizing our youth, that’s why they came today to see our facilities, such as workplaces, horticulture and certain agriculture sites. Tomorrow we will visit production sites so that they can have reference points to further improve cooperation and to facilitate sending our youth to work in New Zealand in the near future,” said Director General Carlito do Rosario Cabral in Kaikoli, 20/10/25.
The Director General added that tomorrow they will visit municipalities that have horticultural and agricultural production, and will also observe work related to AC repairs in Railaco. In Dili Municipality, they will visit training centers as well as locations where SEFOPE usually prepares workers for testing. After these visits and once references are established, further discussions will take place regarding the work to be conducted in the future.
He confirmed that currently three employers from New Zealand are visiting Timor-Leste, accompanied by their provincial governor from New Zealand and the representative of the New Zealand Embassy in Timor-Leste. He also said that tomorrow the two delegations will visit the municipalities of Aileu and Ainaro, and the day after tomorrow will proceed to Ermera.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Helen Tunnah, stated that the primary objective of the visit is for the team from New Zealand to learn about Timor-Leste’s culture.
Reporter: Domingas
Photo: Domingas