Dili, August 27, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC – Portuguese acronym), together with Telekomcel, held an international conference on “Driving Digital Transformation in Timor-Leste.” The conference took place at the CCD Hall, Mercado Lama, Dili.
Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelo, stated that digital technology is the cornerstone for building an inclusive, efficient, and competitive nation, empowering Timorese people to create new pathways in education, foster innovation, generate jobs, and strengthen transparent governance.
“It is a great honor to be here with all of you today in this important international conference, which is both a national imperative and the realization of a vision we have set for ourselves over the past decade,” said Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelo.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications emphasized that in the Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 (PEDN 2011–2030), Timor-Leste aims to ensure its people are no longer isolated but connected through reliable communication across all regions.
“In line with this, we are implementing the mandate of the PEDN on digital literacy, integrating it into our education system to ensure that our youth can use the internet productively and responsibly,” the Minister added.
The Government reaffirmed that telecommunications are essential for social capital, infrastructure development, and economic growth. Thus, the Government is working together to turn this vision into reality.
In addition, the Minister expressed appreciation for the interest shown by global partners such as Google and YouTube in Timor-Leste, as their involvement demonstrates the potential of the country’s digital future. He highlighted two key prerequisites already being addressed: strengthening Timor-Leste’s digital infrastructure and investing in digital literacy.
“These are fundamental for our people to participate effectively and responsibly in the digital economy,” said Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelo.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares stressed that her ministry is strongly committed to improving student learning through various means, including the use of digital technology.
“We have recently reformed the curriculum at the 3rd cycle level, primarily to equip students with 21st-century competencies such as creativity, communication, critical thinking, and digital literacy,” said Minister Dulce de Jesus Soares.
She explained that digital transformation in the Ministry of Education has been gradually introduced since 2016, when the Ministry began using digital technology to manage schools and enhance learning through applications developed for school inspectors and mentors.
“We must also recognize the support provided by the Ministry of Transport and Communications through TIK Timor. Without their involvement, we would not have access to free education programs such as Google Education Suite and Canva for Education,” the Minister noted.
She affirmed that the arrival of fiber optic connections to schools is highly anticipated, as it will provide internet access to both teachers and students. During the conference, she was also mentioned that teachers will be trained on how to use digital technology to improve the teaching and learning process.
Google Indonesia’s representative, Olivia Husli Basrin, explained during the international seminar that she would showcase the benefits of using Google platforms for learning.
“The development of Google’s platforms is driven by the principle of learning. It’s not just Google, but also YouTube, which is widely used for educational purposes and as a reference tool. For example, I often open YouTube to learn about cooking,” said Olivia Husli Basrin.
She further explained that Google’s educational platforms provide rich and innovative learning experiences, offering opportunities for everyone to access and find useful references.
The conference was attended by participants from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Education, and Telekomcel’s team, under the theme “Driving Digital Transformation in Timor-Leste, Leveraging Open-Source Platforms for Innovation and Skills.”
Reporter: Nelfiano
Photo: Nelfiano