Wednesday 26 August 2009

PDT Promotes Local Business Development at Expo

In conjunction with the Dili International Trade Expo, Peace Dividend Trust has hosted and facilitated several types of activities geared towards cultivating the local economy of Timor-Leste.

On August 16th 2009, Mrs. Ana C de Clouett, Director of ABTS Aust. Business Training & Support, delivered a presentation on human resource management. A total of 23 participants attended this event that was organized by PDT; the largest portion of the group came from women's organizations, while others ranged from students to members of the National Union of Small Enterprises (Uniao Nacional de Pequenas Empresas).

Two days later, a presentation was given by Timor Global on the topics of meeting local demand and standardizing the quality and quantity of agricultural products. This presentation, led by Mr. Afonso de Oliveira, Agribusiness Program Manager, was attended by 38 participants, comprising of 15 women and 23 men. Mr. Oliveira gave detailed information on what types of agriculture products are in high demand and the transportation process from the sucos (villages) to Dili. He also provided documents and photographs about the goods that will be purchased. “I am very appreciative of PDT’s program which links consumers and suppliers. PDT has aided us in finding mungbeans, soy beans, corns, kidney beans, and peanuts, as well as assisted us in taking samples of soil”, said Mr. Oliveira.


Mr. Oliveira addressing the crowd.

Later that day, PDT also presented a section of its own services, consisting of the Timor-Leste Procurement Database and blogs such as Buy and Build. Timor-Leste. It was delivered by Ilidio Ximenes da Costa, Brigida Soares and Gaspar Quintao. After the presentation, business owners visited the PDT booth in order to register with the database and ask that their products be promoted online. Within the first few days of the expo, PDT verification teams have already registered 8 businesses at the expo and another 8 businesses have asked to have their products promoted by putting them on sale at the PDT’s expo stand for passing visitors to buy.

The verification team interviews small business owners.

Hau kontenti tebes no satisfas ho PDT nia servisu nebe buka informasaun hodi hato’o ba ami hanesan dadau ne’e ho espliksaun husi Timor Global no mos senhora Ana de C Clouett” dehan senhora Odete Viera, husi grupo Kate Terus husi Lospalos (“I was very please and satisfied with PDT’s program which, as explained by Timor Global and Mrs. Ana de C Clouett, helps spread out our business information” said Mr. Odete Viera, Group Kate Terus from Lospalos district).

On the day of F-FDTL, August 20th 2009, Coronel Falur Rate Laek himself visited PDT’s booth and bought a few local business handicrafts. These goods were sold directly through the owner, who was promoting his wares at the PDT stand. Another notable figure to visit PDT was Mr. Gil Alves, Minister of Tourism and Commerece.

The Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry browses local wares.

PDT hopes to continue achieving favorable results throughout the duration of the exposition.

Tuesday 25 August 2009

PDT Timor-Leste Releases District Business Guide for Manatuto District


Browsing for goods and services in Manatuto? Look no further without the help of the newly released PDT District Business Guide for Manatuto district, available in both English and Tetum. This guide features the details of 23 businesses active in Manatuto district in a range of areas including accomodation, carpentry, construction, healthcare, 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, Bobonaro, Covalima, Ermera, Lautem, Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi and Viqueque. PDT Timor-Leste expects to release a District Business Guide for the district of Oecusse in the coming weeks.

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

Monday 17 August 2009

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao visits PDT Booth at the Dili International Trade Expo


On 15 August 2009 Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao visited the PDT booth at the Dili International Trade Expo organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MTCI). MTCI is PDT's primary government partner as PDT works to transfer its online business database to MTCI in the coming years.
Above: Brigida Soares explains PDT activities to the Prime Minister. Minister for Tourism Commerce and Industry, Gil Alves, stands listening in the back to the left.


Friday 7 August 2009

Tour de Timor Open Letter

OPEN LETTER: Buy Local. Build Timor-Leste

Dear Tour de Timor Participants, Support Teams, Media and others,

Peace Dividend Trust (PDT) is an organisation based in Timor-Leste working closely with the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste's Committee to support the Tour de Timor sporting event. We would like to thank you for your participation that will help promote Timor-Leste around the world. You will experience 5 days touring in some of Timor-Leste's most beautiful, isolated and poorest regions. 80% of Timor-Leste's citizens live in these areas. Dili is a relatively new city, as our people, are a people of the mountains.

10 years ago this month these regions were subject to wholesale destruction. Most people have yet to restore their living and economic conditions to that of pre 1999.

PDT's Marketplace Project and Buy Local. Build Timor-Leste campaign is designed to help individuals and institutions find what they are looking for in terms of goods and services so as to drive more money into the hands of business people in Timor-Leste and especially in the rural districts. If you require any good or service during your stay in Timor-Leste all you need to do is contact PDT and our staff will help you find a business, which can cater to your requirements. All of PDT's services are free as the Governments of Australia and Norway and Eni Spa fund the project. Vehicles, accommodation, food, water, shelter, clothing, first aid equipment, communications equipment, mechanics, translators, media fixers – can all be obtained in Dili and much can be found in the Districts if you know where to find it. PDT staff based along the race route Dili-Baucau-Viqueque-Manufahi-Maubisse-Dili can help spend your money and support businesses in the neediest parts of the country. In the last 18 months PDT has completed over 5,000 requests for business/market information across the country. It also has 2,200 business profiles online at www.buildingmarkets.org.

$10 spent in the districts is worth $100 spent in Dili. An unskilled labourer in the Districts considers $100/month a good salary.

Contact PDT early with your procurement requirements and we can move quickly to match you with the right businesses.

PDT thanks you for you participation and hopes that we can make this more than just a race. By buying locally you will make a difference and help to build Timor-Leste.

Thank you for your attention.

Celio Alves Matchmaking Associate calves@pdtglobal.org

Ilidio Ximenes Deputy Director iximenes@pdtglobal.org

Thursday 6 August 2009

President Horta Supports "Buy Local. Build Timor-Leste"



Wednesday 5 August 2009

PDT Tender Distribution $1 Million Success



Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) issued a tender in collaboration with the Government of Timor-Leste for the construction of a new National Post Office Headquarters, in Dili. Using the Peace Dividend Trust Tender Distribution Service (TDS) in addition to other outlets the tender was distributed throughout the country.

PDT TDS distributed the tender to 138 construction businesses in Timor-Leste as found on the Timor-Leste Procurement Database www.buildingmarkets.org (made in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry and funded by the Government's of Australia and Norway).

On 19 September 2008 KOICA awarded the contract to East Sunrise Timor-Leste with a value of 999,927.00 USD

In order to perform on the contract East Sunrise Timor-Leste recruited 34 labourers at the construction site in Balide, Dili and at some office staff at the office in Mandarin, Dili. The managers Mr Anajito Ximenes and Mr Kevin Kim say they they plan to hire more at the end of 2009 and early 2010.

East Sunrise obtained the tender through PDT's distribution services and are appreciative for PDT's ongoing assistance in obtaining information about tenders in Timor-Leste.

PDT has distributed 352 tenders since January 2008.

For more information about the TDS contact timor-leste[at]pdtglobal.org and see the online tender website at this link.

Saturday 1 August 2009