The ASEAN–MAFF HRD Project conducted a visit to Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) in Dili, Timor-Leste on 3 December 2025, as part of its efforts to explore new partnership opportunities in support of the country’s recent accession to ASEAN. The collaboration aims to strengthen human resource development in agriculture and the food-related sector, with a particular focus on enhancing Food Value Chain (FVC) initiatives in the region.
UNTL was recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Timor-Leste as a prospective partner for programme implementation, recognising the university’s essential role in advancing agricultural development and workforce capacity in the country.
During the meeting, the Rector of UNTL, Prof. Dr. João Soares Martins, expressed his gratitude to MAFF Japan for the partnership opportunity, reaffirming the university’s strong commitment to supporting the advancement of the Food Value Chain in Timor-Leste. Followed by the appreciation from the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Vicente De Paulo Coreia, for the initiative and highlighted the importance of Food Safety Management in sustaining and strengthening the Food Value Chain across the region. He also proposed that Food Safety Management within Food Value Chain framework be prioritised as a key topic in future programme activities.
Discussions focused on potential pathways for establishing collaboration between UNTL and the Project in 2026. This included identifying priority themes to enhance the Food Value Chain in Timor-Leste, determining the target beneficiaries, designing programme structure and scope, and outlining coordination and financial mechanisms to support successful implementation.
The visit marked a significant step forward in fostering closer cooperation with Timor-Leste, contributing to the shared vision of developing a competitive, sustainable and regionally integrated food system in ASEAN.
