Having recently achieved independence, East Timor needs to quickly develop human resources for managing the economy and international economic affairs as it aspires to membership in ASEAN and entry into AFTA. This project, which makes use of workshops and training tours, seeks to familiarize economic policy officials of East Timor with the theory and practice of free trade institutions and regional economic participation and to deepen their understanding of the ASEAN economies.
This year, a workshop on international trade and investment, the international monetary system and exchange management, and the Asian economic crisis of the late 1990s was held in Dili July 12-14, 2005. About 30 government officials took part. Five participants were selected to participate in an eight-day training tour in February 2006 to Brunei, whose basic conditions, including oil and other natural resources, and whose
economic size are similar to those of East Timor. The participants deepened their understanding of economic integration and gained many suggestions regarding oil development, the distribution and management of oil revenue, and other aspects of economic development policy.