Small Industry Group Participates in Technical Training on Tais Diversification for Bags and Wallets

Liquiçá, October 10, 2025

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), through the Directorate-General for Industry, provided technical training to a small industry group on the diversification of tais (traditional Timorese fabric) for bags and wallets.

This training was delivered by the National Directorate of Manufacturing Industry to ten (10) participants hailing from the Municipalities of Liquiçá and Viqueque. The training was conducted over six (6) days in the Administrative Post of Maubara, Vaviquinia Suco (Village), Liquiçá Municipality.

The training was officially closed with remarks from the Director-General for Industry, Martins Magno.

The Directorate-General for Industry (DGI) encouraged the participants to take full advantage of and properly use the knowledge shared by the trainers, so they can implement it well in their practical activities and future business development.

The DGI also reinforced that the Government, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will continue to make efforts and seek better alternatives to increase the capacity and develop the performance of small and medium enterprises, so that they can become independent and competent to compete efficiently.

This is in response to Timor-Leste's official accession as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which will take place in October 2025. Furthermore, in 2024, Timor-Leste also officially became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In the same venue, the representative of the Administrative Post Administrator (APA) of Maubara, Maria Isabel Pereira dos Santos, Head of the Administration section, added that this training is considered very interesting and important. Trainings like this help to capacitate business groups whose activities are oriented towards industry, as this particular training focused on diversifying tais into the production of bags and wallets.

She expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Directorate-General for Industry, for capacitating and supporting the industry groups through this training. She urged the participants to use this knowledge to better develop their business activities, thereby increasing their income and supporting their family economies.

Attendees at the closing ceremony included the Representative of the PNTL Commander, the National Director of Planning for MCI, the National Director of USD MCI Liquiçá, and the Representative of the Chief of Vaviquinia Suco.