President Jose Ramos Horta cuts the ribbon to open the fair as Minister of Tourism, Commerce
and Industry, Gil Alves, looks on
75 national and international exhibitors participated in the “People’s Fair” trade expo at Dili’s Merkadu Lama from August 27-31st, which was attended by tens of thousands of visitors.
The “People’s Fair” was opened by the President of the Republic, Jose Ramos Horta at a ceremony staged in a new performance space surrounded by traditional Timorese houses, built as part of an continuing programme of renovations to create a permanent expo centre at the Merkadu Lama.
President Horta said that he strongly supported the MTCI’s efforts to open up the export market for Timor Leste’s products. He said that expo was “a positive step for all Timorese, to show the world that Timor Leste can now participate in the international market”.
Minister of Economy and Development, Joao Goncalves, said that there was growing interest in the country’s handicrafts, especially high-quality articles made from the traditional Timorese “tais” weavings, such as handbags. Apart from “tais” items, other Timorese products on display included plants, furniture, coffee, gold jewellery, soap, fresh vegetables and other food items such as coconut oil and salt.
International exhibitors participating in the “People’s Fair” included Austasia Airlines, which recently opened up a new direct flight route from Dili to Singapore. The Republic of Indonesia participated with a tourism display well as a cultural performance by Balinese dancers. Timor Telecom offered free internet service to expo visitors, as well as sponsoring a lottery with prizes including phone credit recharge cards and the star prize of a motor bike. Also present were international couriers DHL, Western Union Money Transfer and Ensul, with a range of fine Portuguese wines and olive oil on show. From the banking sector, there were stands from Bank Mandiri and ANZ, whose “cash point man” was a big hit with the children.
The Government of Timor Leste was represented by stands from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Development and Economy; Health; Agriculture; Tourism, Commerce and Industry; Education, Youth and Culture; as well as the Secretariats of State for Cooperative and Rural Development and Security.
Guests attending the ceremony included the Vice-Prime Minister, Jose Luis Guterres, who awarded certificates of appreciation to USAID, for their support of the “People’s Fair” and to Karya Timor and Fitun Diak, the construction companies responsible for the renovations to the Merkadu Lama Centre.
The SRSG of the United Nations, Mr Atul Khare, members of the government and the diplomatic corps were also among the special guests.
In his opening address, Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Gil Alves said that he had chosen to call the International Expo “The People’s Fair” to mark the anniversary of the 30th August Popular Consultation which took place in 1999. “It was on that day that the People made their choice: freedom and independence for Timor Leste,” Alves said, “With this event, we celebrate the People’s choice and we also express our recognition of the solidarity shown by the international community in our struggle for independence”. He went on to pay tribute to President Jose Ramos Horta, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and Bishop Belo, as key figures in Timor Leste’s independence movement, adding: “But when we speak of the heroes of the resistance, we must recognise that this victory was the People’s victory and that every single person who played a part in the fight for independence deserves our thanks and respect today”.
Alves went on to urge the people of Timor Leste to face the challenges of building the country’s economy: “Where there is a will, there is a way. And I believe that the Timorese people have a strong will to build a successful economy for the sake of our future generations”. The twin aims of the “People’s Fair” were to showcase national products destined for the export market whilst inviting international companies to share their creativity and expertise with Timor Leste entrepreneurs: “to open a window on the world... to show our business community how to realise its full potential,” Alves added.
Rainer Venghaus, Timor Leste’s Country Coordinator for the International Finance Corporation, remarked on the importance of events like the “People’s Fair”. “International Trade and economic growth are closely interrelated. In this context the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry has to be congratulated for this initiative of organising an international trade fair. And hopefully, this will be another stepping stone in boosting Timor Leste’s economy,” he said.
UN SRSG Khare said that he was delighted to be able to visit the inaugural People’s Fair. “I found it a reassuring display of how this young nation is continuing to recover from the difficulties of its past,” Khare said, adding: “As displayed at the fair, Timor Leste has a lot to offer both through its natural resources and beauty and the enthusiasm and ability of its population”
USAID-DAI – represented at the ceremony by Chief of Party Mr David Dyer - supported the event with a contrubution towards the cost of staging the fair and by working side-by-side with the expo team from the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry.
At Sunday’s closing ceremony Minister Alves said that the success of the “People’s Fair” spoke for itself, congratulating the exhibitors for the “impressive” show they had made at the expo. “This event reflects the energy of Timor Leste’s business community,” he said, “It reflects a young but dynamic business environment. Even though we are a young country, we are already reaching out to world markets. We are open for business”.
Visitors to the fair were entertained at both the opening and closing ceremonies, with performances from traditional Timorese dance groups Leziaval and Timor Furak and music from the St. Jose Choir and Rai Nain rock group.
The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry will be staging regular annual trade shows at the Merkadu Lama to mark three keynote dates in Timor Leste history: the May 20th 2002 Independence Day, the August 30th Popular Consultation of 1999 and the Declaration of Independence on November 28th 1975. This year’s November expo will focus on national industries, with displays and special events throughout the country’s 13 districts.
The “People’s Fair” was opened by the President of the Republic, Jose Ramos Horta at a ceremony staged in a new performance space surrounded by traditional Timorese houses, built as part of an continuing programme of renovations to create a permanent expo centre at the Merkadu Lama.
President Horta said that he strongly supported the MTCI’s efforts to open up the export market for Timor Leste’s products. He said that expo was “a positive step for all Timorese, to show the world that Timor Leste can now participate in the international market”.
Minister of Economy and Development, Joao Goncalves, said that there was growing interest in the country’s handicrafts, especially high-quality articles made from the traditional Timorese “tais” weavings, such as handbags. Apart from “tais” items, other Timorese products on display included plants, furniture, coffee, gold jewellery, soap, fresh vegetables and other food items such as coconut oil and salt.
International exhibitors participating in the “People’s Fair” included Austasia Airlines, which recently opened up a new direct flight route from Dili to Singapore. The Republic of Indonesia participated with a tourism display well as a cultural performance by Balinese dancers. Timor Telecom offered free internet service to expo visitors, as well as sponsoring a lottery with prizes including phone credit recharge cards and the star prize of a motor bike. Also present were international couriers DHL, Western Union Money Transfer and Ensul, with a range of fine Portuguese wines and olive oil on show. From the banking sector, there were stands from Bank Mandiri and ANZ, whose “cash point man” was a big hit with the children.
The Government of Timor Leste was represented by stands from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Development and Economy; Health; Agriculture; Tourism, Commerce and Industry; Education, Youth and Culture; as well as the Secretariats of State for Cooperative and Rural Development and Security.
Guests attending the ceremony included the Vice-Prime Minister, Jose Luis Guterres, who awarded certificates of appreciation to USAID, for their support of the “People’s Fair” and to Karya Timor and Fitun Diak, the construction companies responsible for the renovations to the Merkadu Lama Centre.
The SRSG of the United Nations, Mr Atul Khare, members of the government and the diplomatic corps were also among the special guests.
In his opening address, Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Gil Alves said that he had chosen to call the International Expo “The People’s Fair” to mark the anniversary of the 30th August Popular Consultation which took place in 1999. “It was on that day that the People made their choice: freedom and independence for Timor Leste,” Alves said, “With this event, we celebrate the People’s choice and we also express our recognition of the solidarity shown by the international community in our struggle for independence”. He went on to pay tribute to President Jose Ramos Horta, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and Bishop Belo, as key figures in Timor Leste’s independence movement, adding: “But when we speak of the heroes of the resistance, we must recognise that this victory was the People’s victory and that every single person who played a part in the fight for independence deserves our thanks and respect today”.
Alves went on to urge the people of Timor Leste to face the challenges of building the country’s economy: “Where there is a will, there is a way. And I believe that the Timorese people have a strong will to build a successful economy for the sake of our future generations”. The twin aims of the “People’s Fair” were to showcase national products destined for the export market whilst inviting international companies to share their creativity and expertise with Timor Leste entrepreneurs: “to open a window on the world... to show our business community how to realise its full potential,” Alves added.
Rainer Venghaus, Timor Leste’s Country Coordinator for the International Finance Corporation, remarked on the importance of events like the “People’s Fair”. “International Trade and economic growth are closely interrelated. In this context the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry has to be congratulated for this initiative of organising an international trade fair. And hopefully, this will be another stepping stone in boosting Timor Leste’s economy,” he said.
UN SRSG Khare said that he was delighted to be able to visit the inaugural People’s Fair. “I found it a reassuring display of how this young nation is continuing to recover from the difficulties of its past,” Khare said, adding: “As displayed at the fair, Timor Leste has a lot to offer both through its natural resources and beauty and the enthusiasm and ability of its population”
USAID-DAI – represented at the ceremony by Chief of Party Mr David Dyer - supported the event with a contrubution towards the cost of staging the fair and by working side-by-side with the expo team from the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry.
At Sunday’s closing ceremony Minister Alves said that the success of the “People’s Fair” spoke for itself, congratulating the exhibitors for the “impressive” show they had made at the expo. “This event reflects the energy of Timor Leste’s business community,” he said, “It reflects a young but dynamic business environment. Even though we are a young country, we are already reaching out to world markets. We are open for business”.
Visitors to the fair were entertained at both the opening and closing ceremonies, with performances from traditional Timorese dance groups Leziaval and Timor Furak and music from the St. Jose Choir and Rai Nain rock group.
The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry will be staging regular annual trade shows at the Merkadu Lama to mark three keynote dates in Timor Leste history: the May 20th 2002 Independence Day, the August 30th Popular Consultation of 1999 and the Declaration of Independence on November 28th 1975. This year’s November expo will focus on national industries, with displays and special events throughout the country’s 13 districts.
A satisfied customer heads home
