Timor-Leste Accelerates Regulatory and Infrastructure Development for ASEAN Chairmanship

Jakarta: Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta said his country's position as ASEAN Chair in 2029 will drive accelerated national development, from regulatory harmonization to infrastructure development to support various regional agendas.

According to Ramos-Horta, preparations for the ASEAN chairmanship are forcing Timor-Leste to move more quickly in various sectors to prepare it to host the regional organization's high-level meetings.

"The first benefit for Timor-Leste is that it encourages us to accelerate many things," Ramos-Horta told the media after attending a Leadership Lecture in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

He explained that the Timor-Leste government is currently accelerating adjustments to various regulations and international agreements, including the construction of supporting facilities such as hotels, convention centers, and urban infrastructure.

According to him, several road widening and urban planning projects are underway as part of long-term preparations leading up to 2029.

"We need more hotels, convention centers, and other supporting facilities. That's why we've started widening the roads and beautifying the city," he said.

Ramos-Horta believes the economic benefits of these preparations are beginning to be felt by the community and are expected to grow in the coming years.

He cited increased investor interest as one of the positive impacts of Timor-Leste's status as a candidate for ASEAN Chair.

"The benefits of being ASEAN Chair for the local economy and improving people's welfare are already beginning to be seen. In the next two years, the impact will be even greater as more investors come in," he said.

Encourage Conflict Prevention

However, Ramos-Horta emphasized that Timor-Leste will not introduce drastic changes to ASEAN policy if it leads the organization.

According to him, every ASEAN chair must maintain the continuity of policies agreed upon by regional leaders.

"We will work with the current and next ASEAN chairs to align policies and priorities to ensure continuity," he said.

Ramos-Horta stated that one issue that he believes ASEAN needs continued attention is conflict prevention.

He explained that conflict prevention relates not only to relations between countries, but also to domestic conflicts that can arise from differences in ethnicity, religion or welfare.

According to Ramos-Horta, Timor-Leste's experience shows that small tensions that are not resolved early can escalate into larger crises.

"We actually saw tensions in 2004, but they weren't given much attention at the time. As a result, in 2006 we faced a crisis that lasted until 2008," he said.

Therefore, he believes ASEAN countries need to strengthen early detection and conflict prevention mechanisms so that potential instability can be addressed before it escalates into a larger crisis.

"When we talk about conflict prevention, it doesn't just occur at the regional or global level, but also within each country," he said.

Timor-Leste will make history as the first country to lead ASEAN just four years after officially becoming a full member of the organization.

The decision regarding Timor-Leste's chairmanship in 2029 was agreed by Southeast Asian leaders at the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, after the country officially joined ASEAN as its 11th member in October 2025.