Speech by H.E. the Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak At the Ground-breaking Ceremony for Timor Marina Square Construction
Lecidere, May 17th, 2022
Your Excellency, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (MCAE) Mr Joaquim Amaral
Your Excellencies, Members of the 8th Constitutional Government
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and International Agencies accredited in Timor-Leste
Excellency, Executive Director of TradeInvest Timor-Leste I.P. Mr. Arcanjo da Silva
Excellency, “A-Smart Holdings Ltd” CEO, Mr. Liam Huan Chiang
Excellencies, Representatives, and Employees of Timor Marina Square S.A.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished guests
The 8th Constitutional Government has set a priority to diversify the economy, especially by promoting initiatives that encourage and stimulate the growth of productive sectors considered strategic for national development, such as Tourism, Agriculture, and the transforming industries of natural and oil resources.
It was also established as a major national goal, reducing excessive dependence on Petroleum Fund revenues, as well as gradually reducing the weight of the public sector in the economy, by strengthening investment and private initiative.
Therefore, it is with great joy and satisfaction that today I participate in this Ground Breaking Ceremony for the construction of Timor Marina Square, which materializes the country’s priorities and makes possible the fulfillment of one of the great national designs, with a private enterprise, financed by international funds that allow the appearance of a new economic operator in the Tourism sector.
A ceremony that celebrates the beginning of an urban rehabilitation process that will take place in this important area of Largo de Lecidere, with new infrastructure, modern, efficient, economically and environmentally sustainable, that will provide not only new services to our citizens, tourists, investors and businessmen that visit us, through a hotel, restaurants, shops and flats, but also better hotel offers in the country and quality services to our users.
A business venture that sets the pace of growth and progress that we want for the country, with more innovation, more creativity, and more private entrepreneurship, stimulating the emergence of a new generation of qualified workers and economic operators.
An investment that certainly contributes to the Government’s major objectives and which is demanded by our citizens, especially the youngest, who seek new training and employment opportunities, capable of increasing their qualifications and skills, as well as their sources of income, well-being, and quality of life.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Distinguished Guests
The Timor Marina Square Complex represents the growth and modernity that we want for our country!
An investment of 50 Million dollars, exclusively private, is invested in our land, demonstrating the commitment and confidence of external investors in our collective future.
Timor-Leste is a welcoming, safe and peaceful country, with different offers and potentialities in the tourism, agriculture, fishery, industry, commerce, and services sectors, which will benefit the community with this new urban development pole.
With this initiative, 170 immediate direct jobs will be created, which will carry out the construction work. Later on, 250 jobs directly linked to the project will be created during the operational phase.
We are confident that the presence of this infrastructure in Lecidere, Dili, will be a driver of new employment and business opportunities, generating hundreds of jobs in support services, transport, commerce, logistics, and technical-financial services.
New opportunities for training and institutional capacity building, that, by resorting to the best international service and customer care practices, will raise the standard and level of quality in the supply of Timor-Leste’s hospitality industry.
Therefore, I would like to thank the representatives of Timor Marina Square S.A., and the CEO of A-Smart Holdings Ltd, Mr. Liam Huan Chiang, for your investment in Timor-Leste and the Timorese, and renew our willingness to continue to work together towards the realization of this and other investment projects.
I would also like to thank the coordination of the investment carried out by H.E. the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (MCAE) and the work undertaken by the staff, technicians, and specialists, under the supervision of the TradeInvest Timor-Leste I.P. Agency.
Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to all those who contributed to this investment, which significantly honours and dignifies us.
We are all to be congratulated for launching the first stone of the complex that will become the Timor Marina Square Hotel, shops, and Apartments.
May God bless us all.
Thank You!