Malaysia Ready To Share Rural Development Experience With Timor-Leste

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is committed to sharing its experience in rural development with Timor-Leste, ASEAN’s newest member state, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

 The Rural and Regional Development Minister said Malaysia is prepared to collaborate by hosting officials from Timor-Leste, particularly at the ministry, for a specified period under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP).

“We can also conduct a ‘Training of Trainers’ programme for their officials here, while senior officers from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) may also visit Timor-Leste,” he told a press conference after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Malaysia and Timor-Leste on cooperation in rural development here today.

The MoU was signed by Ahmad Zahid and Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dr Bendito dos Santos Freitas.

Ahmad Zahid said that apart from infrastructure, Malaysia is also ready to share its expertise in education, entrepreneurial training, technical areas and other fields under the purview of the ministry.

“I have visited Timor-Leste, including its rural areas, and we are ready to assist.

“In education, especially preschool, Timor-Leste already has existing programmes, but we hope to strengthen them further through the Community Development Department (KEMAS).

“The same goes for entrepreneurship — although other ministries are involved, we will continue to focus on developing rural entrepreneurs,” he said.

In addition to producing entrepreneurs and technopreneurs, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia is also ready to share its knowledge and technology through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to accelerate Timor-Leste’s development and help it progress on par with other ASEAN countries.

Ahmad Zahid also encouraged Malaysian investors to explore opportunities in Timor-Leste, noting that the number of Malaysian investors in the country remains small at present.

Meanwhile, Freitas expressed hope that the MoU would pave the way for stronger bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Timor-Leste in national development, particularly in technology transfer, knowledge sharing and digitalisation efforts to improve the lives of rural communities.

“We are taking this opportunity to learn from Malaysia’s experience. Together, we can develop for the benefit of our people and strengthen bilateral cooperation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA