East Timor, which is hoping to join ASEAN in the near future, has been independent only for a short time and has a severe shortage of experts in the fields of macroeconomics and international economics. In light of the situation, the goals of this project are to prepare for the integration of regional economies and to foster human resources who are knowledgeable about economic policy. Specifically, training activities such as workshops and study tours were conducted for East Timor government officials. These were conducted in cooperation with experts from various ASEAN countries under the leadership of the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research based on the notion that the experiences of its neighbors may provide useful lessons for East Timor.
In fiscal 2004 and 2005, workshops were held in the capital city of Dili. Experts were invited from Malaysia to participate in workshops attended by about 30 participants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Timor Sea Designated Authority, and Ministry of Natural Resources, Minerals, and Energy Policy. Participants shared views on the current status and operations of existing regional cooperation forums, such as ASEAN and the ASEAN Free Trade Area, and international economic regimes, such as the World Trade Organization. They also learned from experts about international trade and investment, and international finance and exchange rate systems.
Once a year, five workshop participants are selected to participate in overseas study tours. Malaysia (2004) and Brunei (2005) were selected for use as training sites, given the similarity of their initial development conditions, including their possession of oil and other natural resources. For about one week, trainees visited institutions that play a significant role in economic management in the two countries, exchanged views with individuals at those institutions, and learned about free trade and economic integration.
This year, three policymakers selected from among the participants of previous workshops attended a one-month training program in Malaysia. In addition, an international conference was held January 22-23, 2007 in Dili to impart knowledge and stimulate awareness of the ASEAN membership process in East Timor among the neighboring countries. At the conference, entitled "Economic Development of Timor-Leste: The Role of Regional Cooperation," experts from ASEAN countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia gathered to discuss such topics as "Exports Imports: Challenges and Opportunities for Timor-Leste under ASEAN" and "Employment Creation through Regional Economic Integration: Scope and Limitations," drawing on their experience in their own countries.
This project gave participants from East Timor access to a great deal of information and knowledge related to the cooperative relationships within the ASEAN region, and provided a significant opportunity for them to explore new issues and approaches to conceptualizing their own country's conditions. This project also contributed to the formation of human networks among participants in East Timor and the neighboring countries.