Database Launch 29 May 2008

On 29 May 2008 Gil Alves, the Minister for Tourism, Commerce and Industry, along with Robin Scott Charlton of AusAID formally launched the Timor-Leste Online Procurement Database developed by the Peace Dividend Trust as part of its Marketplace Project. Joining the launch were over 150 guests, including Alfredo Pires the Secretary of State for Natural Resources, Fransisco Borlako Soares Chief Government Procurement and representative from private sector, the diplomatic corps, UN agencies, International and National NGOs, and the

International Stabilization Force (ISF) to name a few.

In its first week, ww.buy-in-timor.org via http://www.buildingmarkets.org/ has had 907 visits with 50% coming from within Timor-Leste, 16% from Australia, 7% Canada, 6.5% Indonesia and 4.5% from Portugal.

Tiga Roda's

As part of a nation wide campaign to promote awareness around the issue of local procurement 115 owners and operators of Dili's ubiquitous "Tiga Roda's" (three wheeled kiosks) agreed to having the Buy Local. Build Timor-Leste logo and slogan painted on their kiosks.

So expect to see them anywhere you used to see them - except with a brand new look. Not only is it hoped that the new look will spark new thinking and perhaps even new bahviours on the part of international buyers but it will also make them more easily visible. They love the visibility. Good for business and good for road safety.

Feature 1: Are you in the market for Rattan Furniture?

Grupo Buka Moris Ratan Factory, Suai, 20 April 2008



Look no further, or look as far away, as Suai on the south coast of Timor-Leste.



Marcelino Soares Pinto’s first experience in the furniture industry was in Viqueque in 1972, when as a student he found work with a state furniture production program. His life took a dramatic turn in 1975, when the Indonesian invasion led to him taking to the mountains with the FALINTIL resistance. In 1980, Snr. Marcelinos’ days with the armed resistance were brought to an end when a serious gunshot wound to the leg forced him down from the mountains. By the early 1990s he returned to the furniture industry.



On 4th November 1993, Snr Marcelino opened his rattan furniture business. By 1994 Snr Marcelino was employing 15 young men to help him meet demand. Later, he was able to purchase a generator and machining equipment which enabled him to produce the rattan strips more efficiently, and at the height of its development, Snr Marcelino’s factory was producing four furniture sets (each consisting of four chairs and a table) per day. All this came to an end with the militia violence of 1999, in the course of which Snr Marcelino’s buildings, equipment and materials were completely destroyed.




Snr. Marcelino pictured with the entire tool collection (with the exception of his home-made rattan-stripper) used to keep himself and five employees in business.





On 15th March 2001, Grupo Buka Moris was back in business, and Snr. Marcelino now employes 5 young men. Although Snr. Marcelino has developed some innovative tools out of available resources he has not yet been able to afford a new generator and machinery. In the seven years since reopening his business, most orders have been local and production has not yet exceeded one furniture set every four days. More recently, however, there have been some positive developments. The Peace Divident Trust Micro Matchmaking team based in Covalima have helped to attract orders for Grupo Buka Moris furniture from throughout Timor-Leste, and some items of furniture have even been taken to Australia as samples. He is also excited about an opportunity to pass on some of his skills to young people through the Dom Bosco training program.



Snr. Marcelino demonstrates the strength of his rattan furniture by repeatedly throwing it on the ground. The strength and durability of this rattan furniture means that it can easily survive the roads of Timor-Leste.

To order rattan furniture from Grupo Buku Moris, contact the Peace Dividend Trust Micro Matchmaking team in Suai (Contact Person Antonio Alves, Tel: +670 729 4020).

Three different models of furniture setting are available, each consisting of four chairs and a table. They are priced respectively at $35, $65 and $85.

www.buildingmarkets.org

The Peace Dividend Trust Procurement Database is now online.

Looking to Buy Something Locally?

Then watch this space and you will be able to obtain the website for Timor-Leste's first Online Procurement Database.

UNDP Tenders.

This is an aerial view of UN House in Caicoli Dili.

UN Agencies, Programmes and Funds are among some of the heaviest users Peace Dividend Trust's services. To date approximately 25% of all tenders distributed to the domestic private sector in Timor-Leste by PDT's Tender Distribution Point have come from UNDP. For more information see http://www.peacedividendtrust.org/en/data/files/download/employment/PDT-TL%20Press%20release%201.pdf

Code of Conduct

Have you ever wondered what the UN Supplier Code of Conduct is? At least for the UNDP side of things anyway.

You can find it here on http://www.undp.org/procurement/documents/undp-supplier-code-of-conduct.pdf

Rural Matchmaking: 6 Districts

The Peace Dividend Trust has staff in Dili and 6 districts; including the largest and the most isolated, Lautem, Baucau, Ainaro, Cova Lima, Bobonaro and Oecusse. Staff in these districts provide local procurement matchmaking services to international organisations and personnel conducting activities at the District level.

If you want to buy locally and thus support economic development in the Districts, where it counts most contact either PDT staff in the Districts directly (E) denotes English Speaking. All speak Bahasa and some speak Portuguese. All operate in their home districts.

Micro Matchmaking Associate

Ilidio Ximenes +670 723 3335 iximenes@peacedividendtrust.org (E)

Micro Matchmaking Assistants Lautem
Octavio Lopes +670 732 3837 (E)
Quiteria Fernandes +670 5705 (E)

Baucau Representative
Adalgiza Freitas Marcal +670 724 9580 (E)
Micromatchmaking Assistants Baucau
Helven Bento +670 734 4649 (E)
Gualdina Wollo +670 728 8944 (E)

Micro Matchmaking Assistants Ainaro
Siler Ramalho +670 726 9584 (E)
Aderito do Nacimento +670 734 7139

Micro Matchmaking Assistants Cova Lima
Antonio Fahik Alves + 670 729 4020
Maria Barros +670 735 0715 (E)

Micro Matchmaking Assistants Bobonaro
Domingos Savio Dos Reis +670 733 8020
Domingos Amaral +670 727 1645 (E)

Micro Matchmaking Assistants Oecusse
Arnol Suni +670 735 1179
Linda Naheten +670 731 9232 (E)



Additionally, PDT is conducting a national business verification in which the profiles of all businesses active in Timor-Leste from Fatu Sinai to Jaco and from Tasi Mane to Tasi feto will be lodged on the Timor-Leste Online Procurement Database. This database will go live online on 20 May 2008.

From Kabul to Dili

This is a screen shot of the Afghanistan Online Procurement Database managed by PDT's sister Marketplace project in Kabul. For more information see http://www.procurementdirectory.af/.

PDT Timor-Leste will launch a similar version of this product on 20 May 2008 in commemoration of the Restoration of Independence Day in Timor-Leste. More information on this launch on 15 May 2008 - watch this space.