PDT Welcomes New MTCI Members to Verification Team

After successfully completing a six month training program with Peace Dividend Trust (PDT), two staff from the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, and Industry (MTCI) return back to their home office. Now, three new members are welcomed into the PDT Verification Team in order to learn the methodology and skills needed to maintain an extensive business database system.

This partnership between the two organizations is laying the framework for the eventual transfer of PDT’s entire business database, http://www.buy-in-timor.org/, over to MTCI. The Ministry has continually expressed its pleasure with the work PDT has put into building the database, as well as its plans to one day manage and support the entire system.

The Three New MTCI Members in PDT Verification Office: Isabel Moreira, Ermelinda Lay and Ishmail G. Amaral

Serbisu Iha Timor-Leste Captures over 100,000 Views

Serbisu Iha Timor-Leste, or Jobs in Timor-Leste, has recently passed the 100,000 page view milestone since its creation in December of 2008. This blog, founded and operated by Peace Dividend Trust (PDT), has advertised over 800 job opportunities available in Timor-Leste.

Where did the Billions Go?

PDT Timor-Leste Releases District Business Guide for Oecusse District

Traveling to the district of Oecusse? Don't go without PDT's newly released District Business Guide available in both English and Tetum. In this guide, you will find a list of 83 active businesses operating in a variety of different industries. For example, take a look at Oecusse's very own newspaper, The Lifau Post, that has been serving the district since 2003. Also be sure to check out the accomadation section for an up to date list of hotels and restaurants.

District Business Guides in pdf format can now be downloaded from the PDT Timor-Leste Blogspot for the districts of Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Covalima, Ermera, Lautem, Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi, Oecusse and Viqueque. PDT expects to release the final Business District Guide for the district of Dili in the coming month.

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

Riders, PDT Committed to Building Timor-Leste

Riders pass in front of PDT banner.

The international attention captured by Tour de Timor offered a wider audience the chance to see the direct impact of buying local. Peace Dividend Trust (PDT) capitalized on this opportunity by encouraging all international visitors to first look to Timorese products when making purchases.

While shopping, race participants viewed firsthand the quality and personality of Timorese handicrafts. One Australian biker offered her feedback to PDT, “Timor Leste crafts are beautifully colored, happy genuine products of a country that needs you to buy!” And now, facilitated by events like Tour de Timor, more international dollars are flowing directly into the coffers of Timorese businesses, creating local jobs and directly enhancing nationwide stability.

Bikers browse Timorese products.

PDT continues to support and assist these local businesses ready to deliver their products to market. With an online business database of over 2,250 enterprises, PDT offers quick results to buyers seeking local goods and services. In one recent example, PDT received a request for a large quantity of tais (a traditional Timorese fabric) bags to be manufactured for Tour de Timor. Within five days, the 83 bags were completed and delivered by Oaseq, a tailoring shop in Baucau, resulting in $415 spent locally.

With the conclusion of the race and the departure of the majority of riders, Peace Dividend Trust continues its campaign of “Buy local. Build Timor-Leste.”. The trademark banner was even captured by the exclusive video of Tour de Timor, produced by Timorese television station Tempo Semanal. (To view the whole video, click here.)

PDT featured on official Tour de Timor video.