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Singapore would be opening selected sectors and occupations to workers from East Timor next year, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Friday.
“This will create new opportunities for Timorese while strengthening our business and people-to-people links,” Wong said at a joint press conference with East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in Dili.
The visit, the first by a Singapore prime minister, comes a year after East Timor became a full Asean member.
Wong laid out several areas where the two countries could take their cooperation to the “next level”.
Foreign ministers Vivian Balakrishnan and Bendito dos Santos Freitas would set up a “regular consultation mechanism” to discuss bilateral, regional and international developments, giving both governments “a platform for closer coordination”, Wong said.

Singapore will also continue to support East Timor’s integration into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“Now that East Timor has joined Asean, the next priority is for it to contribute fully to the organisation and prepare for its chairmanship of Asean in 2029,” Wong said.
East Timor has indicated it will be ready to host the 2029 Asean Summit.
The enhanced Singapore East Timor Asean Readiness Support package, launched during Gusmao’s visit to Singapore last year, will be expanded to include more Asean-related programmes.
Singapore will run tailored workshops on the duties of the Asean chairmanship for officials in Dili, and it welcomes attachments for Timorese officials with Singapore’s Asean chairmanship team next year, according to Wong.
On the economic front, the city state remains one of East Timor’s biggest investors, with Singaporean companies exploring opportunities from wholesale trade to renewable energy.

“These investments reflect growing interest and confidence in East Timor’s future,” Wong said. “By working together, we can create new business opportunities, support economic diversification, and generate growth that benefits both our peoples.”
Singapore will also deepen healthcare cooperation to support capability building and workforce development in East Timor.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last Friday that the National University Hospital and East Timor’s Ministry of Health intended to sign a memorandum of understanding later this month, covering health workforce development and public health capability.
The two countries would also cooperate on education, to develop school leaders who can help shape the next generation in East Timor, Wong said.
Bilateral ties between both countries had grown, he added.
Singapore opened a resident embassy in Dili in 2024 and appointed its first resident ambassador, Teo Lay Cheng, earlier this year. These were milestones, Wong said, that reflected Singapore’s commitment to building a stronger partnership with East Timor.
This article was first published by CNA


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The Singapore prime minister pledged to set up a ‘regular consultation mechanism’ with the newest Asean member during his visit to Dili


The Singapore prime minister pledged to set up a ‘regular consultation mechanism’ with the newest Asean member during his visit to Dili.


Singapore to welcome East Timorese workers from next year: Wong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Singapore prime minister pledged to set up a ‘regular consultation mechanism’ with the newest Asean member during his visit to Dili

The Singapore prime minister pledged to set up a ‘regular consultation mechanism’ with the newest Asean member during his visit to Dili