LH Submete Policy Brief Kona-ba Urjénsia Diversifikasaun Ekonómika iha TL

 Link to this article in English  

Díli, 26 Agostu 2026 — La’o Hamutuk  submete Policy Brief ho títulu “Investe iha Setór Produtivu sira atu Hametin Diversifikasaun Ekonomia iha Timor-Leste” ba Governu no instituisaun relevante sira, nu’udar kontribuisaun konstrutiva ba debate nasionál kona-ba oinsá Timor-Leste bele harii ekonomia ne’ebé produtiva, diversifikadu, inkluziva, sustentável no menus dependente ba petróleu.

Policy Brief ida ne’e bazeia ba rezultadu Kolókiu Nasionál ne’ebé hala’o iha 17–18 Marsu 2026, ho kolaborasaun ho Oxfam iha Timor-Leste no Core Group Transparency (CGT). Dokumentu ne’e analiza dezafiu estruturál sira ne’ebé Timor-Leste enfrenta no hato’o rekomendasaun polítika ba tempu badak, médiu no naruk, ho objetivu atu haforsa kapasidade produtiva doméstika, hamenus dependénsia ba importasaun no rendimentu petrolíferu, no harii baze ekonómiku ne’ebé bele sustenta povu nian moris di’ak no jerasaun sira tuir mai.

Diversifikasaun Ekonomia mak Prioridade Estratéjika

Timor-Leste kontinua enfrenta dezafiu estruturál iha dezenvolvimentu ekonómiku, inklui dependénsia aas ba rendimentu petrolíferu no Fundu Petrolíferu, baze produtiva doméstika ne’ebé sei limitadu, dependénsia ba importasaun no kapasidade esportasaun naun-petrolífera ne’ebé presiza haforsa. Iha kontestu ida ne’e, La’o Hamutuk konsidera katak diversifikasaun ekonomia tenke sai prioridade estratéjika nasionál.

Diversifikasaun la’ós de’it kona-ba aumenta númeru atividade ka setór ekonomia maibé signifika muda gradualmente estrutura ekonomia husi dependénsia aas ba rendimentu petrolíferu no importasaun ba ekonomia ne’ebé iha kapasidade produtiva doméstika ne’ebé forte, kria empregu produtivu, aumenta valór produtu lokál, promove esportasaun naun-petrolífera no hamenus vulnerabilidade ba xoke ekonomia husi li’ur.

Ba La’o Hamutuk, diversifikasaun ekonómika mós tenke haree hanesan oportunidade atu uza patrimóniu petrolíferu ne’ebé limitadu no naun renovavel atu harii kapasidade ekonómika ne’ebé bele dura liu tan husi tempu util petrolíferu.

Patrimóniu naun Renovavel

Fundu Petrolíferu reprezenta patrimóniu nasionál ne’ebé mai husi rekursu petrolíferu naun renovavel. Tanba natureza naun renovavel ida ne’e, jestaun no utilizasaun patrimóniu ida ne’e presiza halo ho responsabilidade, transparénsia, prudénsia fiskál no perspetiva interjerasionál.

La’o Hamutuk konsidera katak osan ne’ebé mai husi petróleu tenke iha medida ne’ebé apropriadu no sustentável, kontribui ba formasaun kapitál produtivu no kapasidade nasionál. Investimentu iha edukasaun, saúde, agrikultura, bee, infraestrutura produtiva, kompeténsia umana, inovasaun no instituisaun públika ne’ebé forte bele ajuda transforma patrimóniu naun renovavel sai kapasidade ne’ebé bele fó benefísiu ba jerasaun sira tuir mai.

Objetivu estratéjiku la bele limita ba oinsá atu sustenta gastu públiku iha tempu badak maibé  oinsá atu uza patrimóniu naun renovavel husi petróleu atu hamenus dependénsia ba petróleu rasik. Ita la bele substitui dependénsia ba petróleu ho dependénsia ba Fundu Petrolíferu. Ita presiza uza patrimóniu naun renovavel atu harii ekonomia ne’ebé iha kapasidade atu moris no dezenvolve ho ninian baze produtiva rasik.

Agrikultura no Soberania Ai-Han Nu’udar Pilár Diversifikasaun

Agrikultura iha papél estratéjiku ba ekonomia no povu nian moris, tanba iha liga diretamente ho seguransa no soberania ai-han, empregu, rendimentu família, ekonomia rurál no dezenvolvimentu komunidade.

Policy Brief ida ne’e rekomenda atu investimentu públiku fó prioridade ba aumentu produsaun agríkola doméstika no haforsa kapasidade agrikultór sira atu responde ba nesesidade merkadu rai-laran. Ida ne’e inklui apoiu ba fini lokál, produsaun ai-han ho valór nutrisaun aas no sistema agríkola ne’ebé apropriadu ho realidade no kondisaun ekolójika Timor-Leste.

Investimentu iha agrikultura tenke la’o liu husi infraestrutura no servisu sira ne’ebé agrikultór presiza, inklui bee no irrigasaun, armazenamentu, prosesamentu, transportasaun, asesu ba merkadu, teknolojia apropriada no asisténsia téknika. Objetivu la’ós de’it atu aumenta volume produsaun, maibé atu haforsa soberania ai-han, aumenta rendimentu agrikultór, kria valór iha rai-laran no hamenus dependénsia ba importasaun ai-han.

Indústria Transformadóra no Kadeia Valór Doméstika

Timor-Leste iha potensiál atu aumenta valór husi produtu lokál, inklui kafé, kakau, nu, au, ai-kameli, produtu testil no sira seluk. Indústria transformadóra, tanba ne’e, bele sai komponente importante ida iha estratéjia diversifikasaun ekonomia. La’o Hamutuk rekomenda atu dezenvolvimentu indústria liga ho agrikultura no setór produtivu sira seluk, atu matéria prima lokál bele prosesadu liu tan iha rai laran no kria tan valór iha ekonomia doméstika.

Indústria transformadóra presiza la’o hamutuk ho investimentu iha enerjia, bee, infraestrutura, merkadu, kompeténsia profisionál no inovasaun. Polítika industriál mós tenke konsidera viabilidade ekonómika, nesesidade merkadu, impaktu sosiál, sustentabilidade ambientál no kapasidade atu opera no dezenvolve iha tempu naruk. Ba La’o Hamutuk, industriálizasaun la bele signifika de’it aumenta estrasaun rekursu naturál. Transformasaun ekonomia presiza aumenta valór iha rai laran, kria empregu produtivu, haforsa kapasidade produtiva nasionál no respeita limite ekolójiku no natureza naun renovavel rekursu naturál sira.

Juventude, Edukasaun no Kapitál Umanu

Diversifikasaun ekonomia presiza kapitál umanu ne’ebé iha koñesimentu, abilidade, inovasaun no kapasidade atu responde ba mudansa iha ekonomia no merkadu servisu.

Policy Brief ne’e rekomenda atu aumenta apoiu ba juventude sira ne’ebé hala’o atividade ekonómika, haforsa kompeténsia téknika no dijitál, promove inovasaun no hadi’a ligasaun entre edukasaun, formasaun profisionál no nesesidade merkadu servisu.

Timor-Leste mós bele aproveita esperiénsia, koñesimentu no poupansa husi sidadaun sira ne’ebé servisu iha rai li’ur, liu husi ambiente no mekanizmu apropriadu ne’ebé fasilita sira nian kontribuisaun ba ekonomia doméstika, inklui bainhira sira fila mai. Investimentu iha edukasaun no formasaun, tanba ne’e, la’ós de’it despeza sosiál maibé nudár investimentu iha soberania no kapasidade ekonómika nasaun.

Infraestrutura Produtiva, Bee no Reziliénsia Ambientál

Infraestrutura públika tenke responde ba nesesidade ekonomia produtiva no povu nian moris di’ak. Bee, eletrisidade, estrada, irrigasaun no infraestrutura ba retensaun no jestaun bee presiza planeadu ho estratéjia integradu, atu suporta produsaun, produtividade, seguransa ai-han no reziliénsia ba mudansa klimátika.

La’o Hamutuk konsidera katak investimentu públiku labele haree de’it husi montante osan ne’ebé gasta ka númeru infraestrutura ne’ebé konstrui, maibé mós bazeia ba benefísiu ne’ebé infraestrutura sira fó ba povu, produtividade ekonomia, sustentabilidade no kapasidade atu opera no mantén infraestrutura sira. Protesaun bee-matan, rai, floresta, biodiversidade no ekosistema mós tenke integra iha planeamentu ekonómika. Diversifikasaun ekonómika ne’ebé degrada baze naturál produsaun sei la bele sustentável iha tempu naruk.

Kooperativa no Setór Privadu Doméstiku

Setór privadu doméstiku no kooperativa sira iha poténsia atu sai motor importante ba diversifikasaun ekonómika, liu-liu iha área rurál no iha kadeia valór produtu lokál.

Policy Brief rekomenda dezenvolvimentu polítika kooperativa ne’ebé klaru atu enkoraja no promove kooperativa produtiva, liu-liu sira ne’ebé bele aumenta produsaun, prosesamentu, merkadu no rendimentu komunidade. Apoiu públiku ba kooperativa no negósiu doméstiku tenke bazeia ba kritériu transparente, asesu justu, responsabilidade no rezultadu ne’ebé bele sukat. Mekanizmu apoiu tenke evita kria dependénsia permanente ba subsídiu ka kontratu públiku no ajuda harii kapasidade negósiu ne’ebé sustentável.

Rekomendasaun Estratéjika ba Governu no Instituisaun Relevante Sira

Bazeia ba análize no rekomendasaun iha Policy Brief, La’o Hamutuk konvida Governu no instituisaun relevante sira atu konsidera prioridade sira tuir mai:

1.    Haforsa agrikultura no soberania ai-han

Aumenta investimentu iha produsaun doméstika, fini lokál, bee, irrigasaun, armazenamentu, prosesamentu no asesu ba merkadu, ho prioridade ba agrikultór ki’ik no ekonomia rurál.

2.    Promove indústria transformadóra no kadeia valór doméstika

Dezenvolve indústria ne’ebé aumenta valór produtu lokál, kria empregu produtivu no haforsa ligasaun entre produsaun, prosesamentu no merkadu.

3.    Prioriza infraestrutura produtiva

Integra investimentu iha bee, eletrisidade, estrada, irrigasaun no infraestrutura retensaun bee ho nesesidade ekonomia, sosiál no ambientál.

4.    Investe iha juventude no kapitál umanu

Haforsa edukasaun, formasaun profisionál, kompeténsia dijitál, peskiza, inovasaun no oportunidade ekonómika ba juventude.

5.    Haforsa kooperativa no setór privadu doméstiku

Kria ambiente regulatóriu, finanseiru no merkadu ne’ebé transparente no klaru no estavel, atu fasilita dezenvolvimentu atividade produtiva doméstika.

6.    Haforsa governansa no responsabilidade fiskál

Garante transparénsia iha planeamentu, alokasaun no ezekusaun investimentu públiku, inklui monitorizasaun, avaliasaun no responsabilidade kona-ba rezultadu.

7.    Integra sustentabilidade ambientál iha polítika ekonomia

Garante katak protesaun bee, rai, floresta, biodiversidade no reziliénsia klimátika sai parte integrante husi planeamentu no implementasaun diversifikasaun ekonomia.

Diversifikasaun Ekonomia Hanesan Dalan Atu Hamenus Dependénsia Estrativista

Ba La’o Hamutuk, dezafiu Timor-Leste la’ós de’it oinsá atu hetan fonte rendimentu foun maibé liu-liu oinsá atu muda estrutura ekonomia atu hamenus dependénsia ba modelu estrativista, ne’ebé bazeia aas liu ba estrasaun no esportasaun rekursu naturál, liu-liu rekursu ne’ebé naun renovavel.

Modelu ekonomia diversifikadu presiza fó valór boot liu tan ba produsaun, koñesimentu, traballu, inovasaun, natureza no kapasidade komunidade. Ne’e presiza haforsa kapasidade atu transforma matéria prima lokál sai produtu ho valór liu tan, kria empregu produtivu no aumenta benefísiu ne’ebé hela iha ekonomia doméstika.

Hanesan parte husi prosesu ida ne’e, polítika ekonomia presiza haree mós impaktu sosiál no ambientál husi atividade ekonomia. Rekursu naturál la bele haree de’it hanesan fonte rendimentu ka matéria prima komersiál maibé nudár parte husi patrimóniu nasionál no sa baze ba komunidade nian moris no jerasaun sira tuir mai. Tanba ne’e, diversifikasaun ekonómika presiza la’o hamutuk ho soberania ai-han, justisa sosiál, protesaun ambientál, transparénsia, partisipasaun komunidade no responsabilidade interjerasionál.

Proposta ba Diálogu no Asaun Nasionál

Liu husi submisaun Policy Brief ida ne’e, La’o Hamutuk husu Governu no instituisaun relevante sira atu konsidera evidénsia no rekomendasaun sira ne’ebé aprezenta iha prosesu planeamentu, formulasaun no implementasaun polítika ekonomia no orsamentu estadu.

La’o Hamutuk mós apela ba Parlamentu Nasionál, setór privadu, kooperativa, agrikultór, juventude, instituisaun akadémika, organizasaun sosiedade sivíl no komunidade sira atu partisipa ativamente iha debate nasionál kona-ba futuru ekonomia Timor-Leste.

Diversifikasaun ekonómika presiza lideransa polítika, planeamentu bazeia ba evidénsia, responsabilidade fiskál, transparénsia no partisipasaun públika. Maibé, susesu depende mós ba vontade no kapasidade atu transforma patrimóniu no rekursu ne’ebé iha agora sai investimentu ne’ebé haforsa povu nian kapasidade atu prodús, transforma, inova no moris ho dignidade.

Timor-Leste iha direitu no responsabilidade atu hili dalan dezenvolvimentu ne’ebé garante katak patrimóniu naturál no rekursu públiku sira serve interese povu ohin loron no jerasaun sira tuir mai. Diversifikasaun ekonómika tenke sai estratéjia atu hamenus dependénsia ba petróleu, haforsa soberania ekonómika no harii ekonomia ne’ebé produtiva, justa, sustentável no reziliente.

La’o Hamutuk hein katak Policy Brief ida ne’e bele kontribui ba diálogu polítika no debate públiku kona-ba transformasaun estrutura ekonomia Timor-Leste — husi dependénsia aas ba rekursu naun renovavel ba ekonomia ne’ebé bazeia liu tan ba kapasidade produtiva doméstika, koñesimentu, traballu, inovasaun, komunidade no rekursu sustentável.

Bele hetan, lee no fahe dokumentu Policy Brief kompletu. 

LH Submits Policy Brief on the Urgency of Economic Diversification in Timor-Leste

 Liga ba artigu ida ne'e iha lian Tetum 

Díli, 26 August 2026 — La'o Hamutuk submitted a Policy Brief entitled “Invest in Productive Sectors to Strengthen Economic Diversification in Timor-Leste” to the Government and relevant institutions, as a constructive contribution to the national debate on how Timor-Leste can build a sustainable, diverse, sustainable and inclusive economy less dependent on oil and gas exports.

This Policy Brief is based on the results of a National Colloquium on 17-18 March 2026, in collaboration with Oxfam Timor-Leste and Core Group Transparency (CGT). The document analyzes structural challenges facing Timor-Leste and makes short, medium and long term policy recommendations aimed at strengthening domestic productive capacity, reducing dependence on imports and petroleum revenues, and building an economic base that can sustain the well-being of the people and future generations.

Economic Diversification is a Strategic Priority

Timor-Leste continues to face structural challenges in economic development, including high dependence on petroleum revenues and the Petroleum Fund, a limited domestic productive base, dependence on imports and non- petroleum export capacity that needs to be strengthened. In this context, La'o Hamutuk considers that economic diversification should be a national strategic priority.

Diversification is not only about increasing the number of activities or sectors of the economy but means gradually changing the structure of the economy from a high dependence on petroleum revenues and imports to an economy that has strong domestic productive capacity, creates productive jobs, increases the value of local products, promotes non-petroleum  exports and reduces the vulnerability of the economy to foreign shocks.

For La'o Hamutuk, economic diversification must also be seen as an opportunity to use limited and non-renewable petroleum assets to build economic capacity that can last beyond the era of petroleum extraction.

Non-Renewable Assets

The Petroleum Fund represents a national asset derived from non-renewable petroleum resources. Due to its non-renewable nature, the management and use of this asset needs to be done with responsibility, transparency, fiscal prudence and an intergenerational perspective.

La'o Hamutuk considers that the money from petroleum must be spent appropriately and sustainably, contributing to the formation of productive capital and national capacity. Investment in education, health, agriculture, water, productive infrastructure, human capacity, innovation and strong public institutions can help transform non-renewable assets into capacity that will benefit future generations.

The strategic objective cannot be limited to how to sustain public spending in the short term but must include how to use non-renewable petroleum  assets to reduce dependence on petroleum  itself. We cannot replace dependence on petroleum with dependence on the Petroleum Fund. We need to use non-renewable assets to build an economy that has the capacity to survive and develop on its own productive base.

Agriculture and Food Sovereignty as Pillars of Diversification

Agriculture plays a strategic role in the economy and people's lives, as it is directly linked to food security and sovereignty, employment, family income, rural economy and community development.

This Policy Brief recommends that public investment prioritize increasing domestic agricultural production and strengthening farmers' capacity to respond to domestic market needs. This includes support for local seeds, food production with high nutritional value and agricultural systems that are appropriate to the reality and ecological conditions of Timor-Leste.

Investment in agriculture should flow through infrastructure and services that farmers need, including water and irrigation, storage, processing, transportation, market access, appropriate technology and technical assistance. The objective is not only to increase production volumes, but to strengthen food sovereignty, increase farmer incomes, create domestic value and reduce dependence on food imports.

Processing Industry and the Domestic Value Chain

Timor-Leste has the potential to increase the value of local products, including coffee, cocoa, coconut, wood, candlenut and textiles. The processing industry, therefore, can be an important component of economic diversification strategy. La'o Hamutuk recommends to develop industry linked to agriculture and other productive sectors, so that local raw materials can be further processed in the country and create more value in the domestic economy.

The processing industry needs to advance together with investment in energy, water, infrastructure, markets, professional capacity and innovation. Industrial policy should also consider economic viability, market needs, social impact, environmental sustainability and the capacity to operate and develop over the long term. For La'o Hamutuk, industrialization cannot only mean increasing natural resource extraction. Economic transformation requires increasing domestic value, creating productive jobs, strengthening national productive capacity and respecting ecological limits and the non-renewable nature of natural resources.

Youth, Education and Human Capital

Economic diversification requires human capital that has knowledge, skills, innovation and the capacity to respond to changes in the economy and the labor market.

The Policy Brief recommends increasing support for youth engaged in economic activities, strengthening technical and digital competence, promoting innovation and improving connections between education, vocational training and labor market needs.

Timor-Leste can also take advantage of the experience, knowledge and savings of citizens who work abroad, through appropriate environments and mechanisms that facilitate their contribution to the domestic economy, including after they return. Investment in education and training, therefore, is not only a social expenditure but an investment in the sovereignty and economic capacity of the nation.

Productive Infrastructure, Water and Environmental Resilience

Public infrastructure must respond to the needs of a productive economy and people's well-being. Water, electricity, roads, irrigation and water retention and management infrastructure need to be planned with an integrated strategy, to support production, productivity, food security and resilience to climate change.

La'o Hamutuk considers that public investment cannot be seen only from the amount of money spent or the number of infrastructures built, but should also be viewed on the benefits that infrastructures provide to the people, economic productivity, sustainability and the capacity to operate and maintain infrastructure. The protection of water sources, soils, forests, biodiversity and ecosystems should also be integrated into economic planning. Economic diversification that degrades the natural base of production will not be sustainable in the long run.

Cooperatives and the Domestic Private Sector

The domestic private sector and cooperatives have the potential to be important drivers of economic diversification, especially in rural areas and in local product value chains.
The Policy Brief recommends the development of clear policies to encourage and promote productive cooperatives, especially those that can increase production, processing, market and community income. Public support for cooperatives and domestic businesses should be based on transparent criteria, fair access, accountability and measurable results. Support mechanisms should avoid creating permanent dependence on subsidies or public contracts and help build sustainable business capacity.

Strategic Recommendations to the Government and Relevant Institutions

Based on the analysis and recommendations in the Policy Brief, La’o Hamutuk invites the Government and relevant institutions to consider the following priorities:

1.    Strengthen agriculture and food sovereignty 

Increase investment in domestic production, local seeds, water, irrigation, storage, processing and market access, with priority given to smallholder farmers and rural economies.

2.    Promote processing industries and domestic value chains 

Develop industries that increase the value of local products, create productive jobs and strengthen the link between production, processing and the market.

3.    Prioritize productive infrastructure 

Integrate investment in water, electricity, roads, irrigation and water retention infrastructure with economic, social and environmental needs.

4.    Invest in youth and human capital 

Strengthen education, vocational training, digital competence, research, innovation and economic opportunities for youth.

5.    Strengthen cooperatives and the domestic private sector 

Create a transparent and clear and stable regulatory, financial and market environment to facilitate the development of domestic productive activity.

6.    Strengthen governance and fiscal accountability 

Ensure transparency in the planning, allocation and execution of public investment, including monitoring, evaluation and accountability for results.

7.    Integrate environmental sustainability into economic policy 

Ensure that the protection of water, land, forests, biodiversity and climate resilience become an integral part of planning and implementation of economic diversification.

Economic Diversification as a Way to Reduce Dependence on Extraction

For La'o Hamutuk, Timor-Leste's challenge is not only how to find new sources of income but especially how to change the economic structure to reduce dependence on the extractivist model, which is based heavily on the extraction and export of natural resources, especially non-renewable resources.

A diversified economic model needs to give greater value to production, knowledge, labour, innovation, nature and community capacity. This requires strengthening the capacity to transform local raw materials into more valuable products, creating productive jobs and increasing the benefits that stay in the domestic economy.

As part of this process, economic policy needs to consider the social and environmental impacts of economic activity. Natural resources cannot be seen only as a source of income or commercial raw material, but as part of the national heritage and the basis for the community's livelihood and future generations. Therefore, economic diversification needs to go hand in hand with food sovereignty, social justice, environmental protection, transparency, community participation and intergenerational responsibility.

Proposal for National Dialogue and Action

Through the submission of this Policy Brief, La'o Hamutuk calls on the Government and relevant institutions to consider the evidence and recommendations it presents in the processes of planning, formulating and implementing economic policy and the state budget.

La'o Hamutuk also calls on the National Parliament, the private sector, cooperatives, farmers, youth, academic institutions, civil society organizations and local communities to participate actively in the national debate on the future of Timor-Leste's economy.

Economic diversification requires political leadership, evidence-based planning, fiscal responsibility, transparency and public participation. However, success also depends on the will and capacity to transform existing assets and resources into investments that strengthen the people's capacity to produce, transform, innovate and live with dignity.

Timor-Leste has the right and responsibility to choose a development path that ensures that natural assets and public resources serve the interests of the people today and for future generations. Economic diversification must be a strategy to reduce dependence on petroleum, strengthen economic sovereignty and build a productive, fair, sustainable and resilient economy.

La'o Hamutuk hopes that this Policy Brief will contribute to policy dialogue and public debate on the transformation of Timor-Leste's economic structure — from a high dependence on non-renewable resources to an economy based more on domestic productive capacity, knowledge, labour, innovation, community and sustainable resources.

You can find, read and share the full Tetum-language Policy Brief document.