Announcing over 2000 Businesses Online.

On 23 March 2009, Peace Dividend Trust, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MTCI) surpassed the 2000 benchmark for businesses on the Timor-Leste Online Procurement Database (located at www.buildingmarkets.org). There are now 2013 unique business profiles online and the job of verifying further new businesses in Dili and the districts continues.

The Timor-Leste Procurement Database has had 43,435 hits in just 10 months. These hits have been generated by 8,272 separate visits. The website is designed to connect institutional and individual buyers (both inside and outside Timor-Leste) with domestic suppliers.

To date 50.05% of visits have come from users inside Timor-Leste, 13.37% from Australia, 7.80% from Singapore, and 6.48% from Indonesia. (see graphic above)

USGov: Trade with ET

East Timor's total trade with the United States in 2008 was $5.07 million, a -54.98% change over 2007. Total U.S. exports were $5.04 million while imports were valued at $32,648. The U.S. surplus/(deficit) was 5,018,932 in 2008, while the balance of trade, the value of exports for each dollar of trade, was $1.00. http://africa.kongotimes.info/news/212/ARTICLE/1776/2009-03-23.html

etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan

etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan

Support ETAN! Donate online. Just go to
http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm. Thank you for your support!

John M. Miller etan@igc.org
National Coordinator, ETAN
718-596-7668

Web site: http://www.etan.org

Send a blank e-mail message to info@etan.org to find out how to
learn more about East Timor on the Internet

Takakazu Ito, Special Assistant to UNMIT SRSG Atul Khare. Rides Past Buy Local Sign

Drink Local. Build Timor-Leste.

A Brief History of "Diamond Workshop"

My name is Leonard Lemos Sim. I was born in Suai, Covalima on May 5, 1967. I was born in a business family. My family ran business in transportation. My education background was not higher. I even did not finish my study at elementary school. I have had ideas to run a business but I could not because I still have no money to run it. I know own Diamond Workshop - contact details here.

In UNTAET period I worked at SVSC or Makita as sub-contractor for Mr. Robert fixing UN cars for three months in early 2000. I started my own business in the mid of 2000. How I started this business? I collected ideas from my workmate from SVSC Company and other friends that have business background. At the first time, I started my business from a very small standard and only fixed individual cars. It was a very hard time for me to start my business, because I have no money, used manual tools and only 5 people worked with me. There were only 15 X 20M2 of land used as space to run that business. And the only things that I could keep developing my business were spirit, confidence, reliability, punctuality and the efficiency of work.

Because of those efforts I made, eventually I got many clients from different individuals, government, local and international NGOS, Institutes including UN as my permanent client.

From the hard time of the struggle, finally my business extended and became well-known. The good things that could make me happy “if our clients satisfy and smile to our services” that is my motto.

PDT Timor-Leste Releases District Business Guide for Ainaro

Going to Ainaro?

Don’t leave without the newly released PDT District Business Guide for Ainaro district, available in both English and Tetum. This Guide features the details of 55 businesses active in Ainaro district in a range of sectors including Accommodation, Construction, Musical Equipment and Accessories, Coffee Processing and Vehicle Rental.

District Business Guides in pdf format can now be downloaded from the PDT Timor-Leste blogspot (http://buylocaltimorleste.blogspot.com/) for the districts of Aileu, Ainaro, Covalima, Lautem, Manufahi and Viqueque. PDT Timor-Leste expects to release a District Business Guide for the district of Baucau in coming weeks.

PDT Timor-Leste’s business verification and online procurement database program is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AusAID.

First Buy Local Baucau Map is Available

Are you traveling to Baucau for business or pleasure? Are you looking for a room to stay in or a fried chicken for your dinner? The first-ever Buy Local Baucau Guide will help you find whatever you need during your visit.

Prepared by Peace Dividend Trust and the Guide Post, the Guide provides business names, exact locations, and contact information for over 120 businesses and organizations based in Baucau, in an easy-to-handle format. It is now available in all major hotels and restaurants in Dili and Baucau, as well as Dili airport and travel agencies.

Mr. Epifanio Faculto, Director of the Department of Commerce in the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, has expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative which will greatly help people, especially foreigners, find their way around Baucau’s business community.

Mr. Mariano dos Santos, Police Immigration Border Sector Commander, recognized that the Buy Local Baucau Guide fills a void. “Foreigners always ask us to give them information about businesses, hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies, etc.,” he said.

Baucau, Timor-Leste’s second-largest town, hosts an important expatriate community. Comprehensive and detailed profiles of each Baucau business are available on the PDT Timor-Leste Online Procurement Database (www.BuildingMarkets.org) More personalized assistance is also available at PDT’s Baucau office in Baucau Kota Lama.