Courtesy Visit of CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat to the Timor-Leste Government Ministries
Courtesy Visit of CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat to the Timor-Leste Government Ministries
On July 1-4, 2024, the Regional Secretariat (RS) of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) made an official courtesy visit to three key ministries of the Timor-Leste government. The CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat was represented by Dr. Frank Keith Griffin, the Executive Director, along with the Deputy Executive Director for Corporate Services Mr. Hanung Cahyono, the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager Mr. Agostinho Irmawan, and the Finance and Operation Manager Mrs. Reita Kalalo.
During the mission, the CTI-CFF sought to strengthen cooperation, align national and regional priorities, and explore opportunities to better serve Timor-Leste. The discussions also aimed to build on the work done under the CTI-CFF framework and discuss the upcoming high-profile meetings to be hosted by Timor-Leste.
On the first day of the visit, the CTI-CFF delegation had a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry, where they were warmly received by His Excellency Marco Da Cruz, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry. The meeting was attended by various distinguished officials, including the Secretary of State for Fisheries, HE Celestino Da Cunha Baretto, the Director General, and representatives from the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) of Timor-Leste.
Minister Da Cruz welcomed the CTI-CFF delegation and highlighted the critical need for an improved framework to support marine biodiversity in Timor-Leste. Dr. Griffin, provided an update on the activities of the Regional Secretariat, emphasizing the significance of the Coral Triangle as a biodiversity hub and outlining the current initiatives, which primarily involve facilitating regional meetings, workshops, and training. Dr. Griffin also shared his vision for transforming the Secretariat's operations to provide more tangible support to member countries, including breaking down the Regional Plan of Action 2.0 into annual work programs that align with national priorities.
During the discussions, the arrangements for the upcoming Senior Officials Meeting-19 (SOM-19) and Ministerial Meeting-9 (MM-9) were highlighted. The meetings are proposed for the first week of December 2024, considering other global events like COP28.
On July 2, 2024, the CTI-CFF delegation met with the leadership of the National University of Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), a member of the CTI-CFF University Partnership. The meeting was attended by the Rector, Vice Rector, and Dean of Fisheries of UNTL, along with representatives from the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and the National Coordinating Committee of Timor-Leste. The Rector welcomed the delegation and emphasized the importance of collaboration between the university and CTI-CFF.
One highlight of the meeting was Dr. Griffin invited UNTL to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CTI-CFF, highlighting the need to align academic programs with the national priorities of Timor-Leste and integrate the sectoral expertise of the university into governmental efforts. The university representatives expressed gratitude for the ongoing support and collaboration with CTI-CFF but also pointed out the challenges they face, such as a shortage of lecturers in the fisheries field. The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthening academic and research collaboration through the CTI-CFF University Partnership, with plans to sign a new MoU in December 2024.
On July 3, 2024, the CTI-CFF delegation visited the Indonesian Embassy in Timor-Leste, where they were received by H.E. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Okto Dorinus Manik and other embassy officials. The Ambassador emphasized the importance of diplomatic and collaborative efforts in advancing regional goals.
Dr. Griffin briefed the embassy on Timor-Leste’s role as the current Chair of CTI-CFF and the upcoming SOM-19 and MM-9 meetings. The Ambassador acknowledged the significance of CTI-CFF initiatives and expressed the embassy’s commitment to supporting and facilitating the necessary diplomatic arrangements.
The courtesy visit concluded on July 4, 2024, with a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste. The CTI-CFF delegation met with a team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where they discussed the overview of the upcoming SOM-19 and MM-9 meetings, focusing on the importance of the blue economy and the need for effective coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The discussions also touched upon the financial and logistical arrangements for the meetings, emphasizing the need for ground support from the host country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its commitment to facilitating the arrangements and recommended a courtesy visit by CTI-CFF to the Prime Minister’s office, given the Prime Minister’s focus on the blue economy and maritime boundaries.
As a way forward, both parties agreed on the need for follow-up meetings to address the concerns raised, finalize logistical and protocol arrangements for the SOM20 and MM9 meetings, and strengthen collaboration to ensure that Timor-Leste gains significant advantages from its involvement in CTI-CFF aligning with the national priorities and leveraging the regional expertise and resources.
