ASEANEWS-TIMOR LESTE MEMBERSHIP | SINGAPORE: Singapore strengthens support for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership
ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – Singapore will intensify its support for Timor-Leste’s government capacity building, as the region’s youngest nation prepares to join Asean as a full member.
The upgraded Singapore-Timor-Leste Asean Readiness Support (Stars) package, now known as the enhanced Stars (eStars) package, will provide tailored assistance to help the Southeast Asian nation meet the requirements for joining key ASEAN economic agreements.
This was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on July 14 at a luncheon for visiting Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
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Prime Minister Gusmao is on an official four-day visit to Singapore, more than a decade after his first as prime minister in 2013. He received a ceremonial welcome on July 14 before meeting President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Wong.
Speaking at the lunch at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Prime Minister Wong said the refreshed package will also include training aligned with Timor-Leste’s national development priorities, as well as leadership development programmes and scholarships for its future leaders.
The eStars package, which runs from July 2025 to December 2028, will offer wider access to ASEAN-related training courses and expertise to support Timor-Leste’s integration into the regional grouping. The first iteration of the Stars initiative formally began in 2022.
Addressing Prime Minister Gusmao, Prime Minister Wong said: “Timor-Leste’s upcoming accession to Asean is a significant milestone, both for your country and for Asean.
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“Singapore looks forward to welcoming you warmly to the ASEAN family. And we will continue to stand with you on this journey.”
Gusmao thanked Singapore for its support over the years, particularly in helping Timor-Leste prepare for ASEAN membership
He cited the training provided to Timorese civil servants in areas such as negotiation and policy writing, describing it as “a real difference” that reflects cooperation “measured not in words, but in actions”.
Timor-Leste, with a population of 1.3 million, formally applied to join the regional grouping in 2011. It received in-principle endorsement in May, and its accession is expected to be formalised at the 47th Asean Summit in October.
Wong noted how Gusmao has longstanding ties with Singapore, and that the Republic is proud to be a partner of Timor-Leste.
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Prime Minister Wong noted that Singapore was among the first countries to participate in a multinational peacekeeping mission led by Australia in 1999.
Over the decade since Timor-Leste gained independence, more than a thousand Singapore personnel have worked alongside the Timorese people to provide humanitarian assistance, build institutions and support its “transition to peace and stability”, Wong said. Bilateral ties between Singapore and Timor-Leste have grown steadily, with Singapore establishing its embassy in the capital Dili in 2024 – “a reflection of its commitment to deeper engagement”, he added.
Economic links between both sides are expanding, and Singapore companies are exploring opportunities in hospitality, real estate and other sectors, Wong said. He also noted that direct flights between the two countries have resumed, with a mutual visa waiver agreement implemented in 2024.
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Even prior to the Stars initiative, more than 1,100 Timorese officials since 2002 have participated in courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), which is a flagship platform established by Singapore in 1992 to provide technical assistance and capacity building for developing nations.
These courses help to build capabilities across a range of areas, from public administration to language and communications.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said Tharman and Wong reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s development through capacity-building programmes, welcoming more Timorese officials to participate in the SCP.
As his country moves towards full ASEAN membership, Gusmao acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasised that regional unity and solidarity are more important than ever in an increasingly unstable world.
He noted how Singapore’s development discipline and clarity of purpose are an example to nations, not only across the region but also around the world.
Singapore and Timor-Leste are countries of different cultures and histories, but both share a common spirit that their futures must be shaped by their people, Gusmao said.
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He also spoke about how both nations are diverse and multicultural, and added that it was inspiring to see how Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian communities coexist harmoniously in Singapore.
Similarly, he shared how Timor-Leste draws strength from its indigenous roots, Portuguese legacy and its many languages and traditions.
“This diversity is not a weakness. It is a source of unity, a quiet strength that holds our societies together,” he said.
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