During 26–31 May 2025, H.E. Mr. Atipat Rojanapaibulya, Ambassador of Thailand to Timor-Leste, received a delegation of senior executives from 9 Thai companies on a visit to Timor-Leste, aiming to explore trade and investment opportunities and foster deeper private sector cooperation between Thailand and Timor-Leste.

The delegation represented a diverse array of sectors, including coffee, retail, frozen food, beverages, health supplements, renewable energy, property development, and hospitality. Participating companies included HILLKOFF, C.P. Consumer Products, Jagota Brothers Trading, Choke Mahachai Beverage, Kovic Kate International, W.Solar, Wyncoast Industrial Park Public Company, President Hotels & Tower, and Amburaya Resort.

The week-long program offered the delegation a broad perspective on Timor-Leste’s economic landscape through engagements with government leaders, international organizations, business networks, and site visits. Government meetings included courtesy calls on H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Republic; H.E. Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste; and H.E. Mr. Mariano Assanami Sabino, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing. A dinner was also hosted in honour of the business delegation by H.E. Mr. Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, with participation from the Minister of Transport and Communications, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, the Vice-Minister of Commerce and Industry, and other senior government officials.

Engagements with international organizations featured briefings by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank, while business networking highlights included a reception attended by over 30 local businesses, ranging from oil and gas to banking and other sectors. The delegation also met with TradeInvest and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste (CCI-TL). To gain firsthand insights into key industries, the group visited Timor Global’s coffee processing facilities, the Heineken brewery, Dili Development’s project site, and Palm Spring Hotel.

The Ambassador of Thailand underscored the visit as a timely step to broaden bilateral cooperation between the two countries. As Timor-Leste prepares for ASEAN membership and continues to open its market, Thailand sees growing potential for private sector engagement. The visit notably coincided with the 46^th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 26 May 2025, where ASEAN leaders announced their decision to admit Timor-Leste as the 11^th member at the upcoming summit in October - an important milestone expected to strengthen regional integration and enhance the investment climate.

With promising opportunities in infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, and consumer markets, the visit marks a new chapter in Thai–Timorese relations, echoed in the Ambassador’s remark that the delegation’s presence reflects Thailand’s commitment to long-term partnerships grounded in mutual growth and sustainable development.

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