Maria Ângela Guterres Viegas Carrascalão. Photo Credit: ApexBrasil

NNA News - Timor-Leste is seeking stronger economic cooperation with Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries, with its ambassador identifying agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and the blue economy as areas offering opportunities for closer ties. Report compiled by Brasil247. 

Ambassador Maria Ângela Carrascalão outlined the priorities at the Forum of Trade and Investment Promotion Agencies of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), hosted by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, ApexBrasil, in Brasília on Wednesday, 7 October.

The forum coincided with the CPLP's 30th anniversary and focused on strengthening economic cooperation among Portuguese-speaking countries.

Carrascalão said the organisation had played an important role in supporting Timor-Leste's development as a young independent state, particularly in education, justice and other areas of institution-building.

“Timor-Leste is a very young country, a nation still under construction, not only in terms of language, but also in education, defense and justice. Therefore, the importance of the CPLP to Timor-Leste is evident, particularly in supporting the development of the Timorese state,” she said.

The ambassador argued that the community's purpose should extend beyond linguistic ties to practical cooperation in trade, industry and social development.

She also highlighted Timor-Leste's position as a member of both the CPLP and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), presenting the combination as an opportunity to connect Portuguese-speaking countries with markets in Southeast Asia.

“Timor-Leste speaks Portuguese, is located on the other side of the world, and can serve as a gateway to ASEAN. We have the advantage of belonging to both the CPLP and ASEAN,” Carrascalão said.

The CPLP brings together countries across four continents through their shared Portuguese language. Its economic cooperation agenda includes efforts to strengthen collaboration between national trade and investment promotion agencies.

Carrascalão identified Brazil as an important partner in helping Timor-Leste expand its economic and development opportunities. She pointed to healthcare, agriculture, sustainable development and environmental protection as areas where the two countries could exchange expertise and pursue cooperation.

“Brazil is very important to Timor-Leste. Brazil and the CPLP can support Timor-Leste in medicine, agriculture, the blue economy, sustainable development and environmental protection,” she said.

Agriculture, particularly coffee production, was among the sectors she highlighted. Carrascalão said Timor-Leste could benefit from Brazil's experience in coffee production and exports, while cooperation through the CPLP could help build capacity and support the country's development.

The ambassador also emphasised human rights as a shared foundation for cooperation, arguing that common values could help sustain relationships between members despite their geographical distance and different regional circumstances.“Everything that unites us, from Europe to Africa and Timor-Leste, is rooted in the objective of respecting human rights,” she said.

Carrascalão called on member countries to focus on future opportunities rather than remain preoccupied with historical grievances. She said stronger collaboration in commerce, industry, healthcare and tourism could deliver practical benefits for Timor-Leste.

“We must look forward and recognize that support from the CPLP in trade, industry, healthcare, tourism and many other areas is very important for Timor-Leste,” she said.

The forum's broader objective is to strengthen links between trade and investment agencies across the Portuguese-speaking world, providing a platform to identify opportunities for joint initiatives and closer economic integration.