During 21–24 July 2026, a Thai delegation comprising Ms. Suleeporn Bunbongkarn, Director of Foreign Affairs Department, Chaipattana Foundation; Ms. Jarupatcha Achavasmit, Founder and Art Director of Ausara Surface and Textiles; and Mr. Chanajit Hnudat, Senior Designer of Ausara Surface and Textiles; visited Timor-Leste to conduct an Assessment Mission on Tais and Women Weavers’ Network. The mission was organized in preparation for the TaisConnect Product Diversification Training Workshop, scheduled to be held in September 2026, under the cooperation between the Royal Thai Embassy in Dili, the Chaipattana Foundation, UN Women Timor-Leste and Timor Aid. The forthcoming workshop aims to share Thai expertise in product diversification and development with members of the Rede Soru-Na’in (Women Weavers’ Network).

During the visit, the delegation held discussions with UN Women Timor-Leste and Timor Aid, met with members of the Women Weavers’ Network, and visited Tais shops, markets, and weaving communities in Maliana, Bobonaro Municipality, to gain insights into existing weaving practices, product development, market opportunities, and challenges faced by Timorese women weavers. H.E. Mr. Atipat Rojanapaibulya, Ambassador of Thailand to Timor-Leste, also hosted a dinner in honour of the visiting delegation, during which he reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to supporting women’s empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and the preservation of Timor-Leste’s cultural heritage through development cooperation.

Thailand has extensive experience in promoting traditional textiles and local wisdom through an integrated approach encompassing textile production, design, product development, branding, and marketing. Through this cooperation, Thai expertise will be shared to support the diversification and value addition of Tais products, creating greater economic opportunities for Timorese women weavers while preserving this important cultural heritage. Tais, the traditional woven textile of Timor-Leste, was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2021.

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