Dili, May 23, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-TL) held a ceremony to commemorate its 15th anniversary under the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable National Development.” The event took place at the CNE Hall in Caicoli on Thursday this week.
The President of CCI-TL, Jorge Manuel Serrano, stated that this 15th anniversary celebration of CCI-TL was attended by the Prime Minister along with entrepreneurs from all 13 municipalities, including the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse-Ambeno (RAEOA).
“This ceremony was not solely organized by CCI-TL but in collaboration with several institutions such as the Authority for Inspection and Supervision of Economic, Sanitary, and Food Activities (AIFAESA), the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA), the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), and the National Commercial Bank of Timor-Leste (BNCTL), which oversee and regulate company operations,” said Jorge Manuel Serrano.
He added that CCI-TL acts as a bridge for the private sector in Timor-Leste and, through direct visits and engagement, has found that many entrepreneurs face challenges, including revenue losses of up to 95%, which hinders sustainable economic growth in the country.
“The government’s presence at this seminar is vital, as each institution explained its role in relation to commercial activities, ensuring companies do not manipulate prices or sell expired products. Offenders must pay fines or face temporary closure. If they fail to comply with regulations, they risk permanent closure. We must believe that by enforcing rules now, we can prevent these problems from persisting in the future,” said the CCI-TL President.
He explained that during the seminar, AIFAESA addressed the importance of strengthening economic resilience through integrity-based inspections on food and health safety, while ANLA presented on improving environmental governance in development, emphasizing that business operations must obtain proper environmental certification.
“While CCI-TL is celebrating its 15th year, some entrepreneurs have been active since the Indonesian era. They are now experienced and continue to contribute. CCI-TL functions as an organizer, advocate, and defender of entrepreneurs, ready to assist whenever issues arise,” he continued.
He also mentioned that CCI-TL serves as a communication bridge between local authorities and entrepreneurs, linking private initiatives with government policies and public institutions at the national level. Every entrepreneur has their own goals and plans to grow their businesses based on their capabilities and vision.
In his concluding message, he urged all entrepreneurs in Timor-Leste to remain consistent in their decisions and not lose motivation, emphasizing that this small country still holds many opportunities. Everyone must trust in the state and government to build strong partnerships that can enable the production of local goods and promote their export abroad.
Report: Nelfiano
Photo: Nelfiano