Dili, 19 February 2026 (Média Democracia) – SECoop through the Secretary of State for Forests (SEF) held its 4th meeting to coordinate with cooperative development patners in Timor-Leste.
The speech of the Secretary of state for Cooperatives (SECoop) delivered by Secretary of state for Forests (SEF) Fernandino Vieira, stated this 4th coordination meeting is a strategic moment to jointly reflect on how to work better together.
“Today’s meeting between SECoop team and partners will discuss progress achieved and obstacles and challenges that can be improved through their interventions related to cooperative development work in our country. We will also clearly see the role of the Secretary of State for Cooperatives to harmoniz, coordinate, and facilitate all work to be effective and have a real impact on communities.” Said Secretary of State for Forests (SEF) Fernandino Vieira
The Secretary informed, the objective of this meeting is not only to implement projects, but to continue strengthening cooperatives to become strong, ransparent, responsible, and sustainable.
“Cooperatives must be an important instrument to boost production, gather and facilitate processing of products from farmers to the market to increase family income and strengthen the rural economy, when the family economy in rural areas is strong, the national economy will automatically be strong. Therefore, SECoop has a fundamental role to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development in Timor-Leste.” Informed the Secretary of State for Forests
The Secretary added that in recent years, SECoop has exercised its commitment to establish and strengthen primary cooperatives at the community level. Secondary cooperatives (multicooperatives or federations) in each municipality and the National Confederation of Cooperatives of Timor-Leste (CNCTL) at the national level.
Meanwhile, the organizational structure of the cooperative movement has managed to gather capital and revenue of up to 21 million US dollars and provide credit to members and farmers amounting to 10 million US dollars.
Reporting : Intern Marito
Photo : Intern Marito