PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GOVERNMENT OF TIMOR-LESTE ANNOUNCES 2011 TIMOR-LESTE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS MEETING

DILI, Timor-Leste -May 11, 2011 – The Government of Timor-Leste has the honor and pleasure to announce that the next Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting (TLDPM) will take place from 11-13 July 2011 at the Dili Convention Center (DCC).

The TLDPM is an annual series of meetings that brings together Government, development partners, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders to engage in policy dialogue with an aim toward achieving a brighter and more prosperous future for all the people of Timor-Leste. Immediate

Day 1 (11 July 2011) will consist of bilateral meetings between the Government and development partners. The day will end with a dinner for Heads of Delegation hosted by H.E. President José Ramos-Horta and a recital by the world renowned Monaco Boys Choir under the patronage of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco.

Days 2 and 3 (12-13 July) will consist of the official release of Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 (SDP) and related discussions on topics such as managing Timor-Leste’s natural resource wealth and further developing the countries agricultural and tourism sectors.

The first Development Partners Meeting took place in 2002 and since then has been instrumental in helping the country implement development programs that strive to create partnerships between all development actors. Furthermore, in the spirit of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and Accra Agenda for Action, the meeting has served as an opportunity for all parties to reflect on aid programming aimed at reducing poverty and how they can be improved in the future.

Throughout the past few years, Timor-Leste has experienced unprecedented growth that has benefited large portions of the population. As the country continues to move away from conflict towards development, the need for all development stakeholders (including civil society and the private sector) to coordinate effectively has become all the more important.

By bringing the Government and development partners together in an effort to achieve development results, Timor-Leste continue to move forward towards a brighter future for all.

For further enquiries please contact the TLDPM Secretariat (tldpm@mof.gov.tl) housed within the National Directorate for Aid Effectiveness (NDAE), Ministry of Finance. For media enquiries please contact Ms. Francisca Maia (fmaia@mof.gov.tl).