Timorese Cattle - a domestic product for an international market.

Peace Dividend Trust's (PDT) Micro Matchmaking (M3) rural business development and facilitation team has been working on facilitating the sale of Timorese cattle to Indonesian buyers for nearly two years.  This is a business activity which has a long history over the past decades as Indonesian appetites for "beef on the hoof" have expanded with its population growth.  However recent events have broken down communication links both inside and outside the country.  PDT is working hard to restore these links and promote business across the rural districts of Timor-Leste.  An increase in business correlates to job creation and wealth generation.

Since 2008 PDT has been assisting the owner of Suai based RAFLIMA (Tafara) Cattle, Mr. Rosito Manek, to source cattle for an Atambua (West Timor, Indonesia) based buyer  (Alowisius Lay, owner of UD Pratama in Atambua).  PDT has also been assisting in sourcing cattle from Mr. Casmiro Fernando, a Bobonaro supplier.  To view RAFLIMA's BuildingMarkets.org profile click here.

PDT Cova Lima has facilitated the sale of 680 head of cattle from local ranchers to Mr. Manek with an estimated value of $185,150. Mr. Manek then exports the cattle to UD Pratama in Indonesia. This month (November 2009), Mr. Manek has 300 more cows available to sell to Atambua, but is awaiting a new license to export from the government of Timor-Leste.

Meanwhile PDT Bobonaro has facilitated the sale of 350 head of cattle from local ranchers to Mr. Fernando with an estimated value of $70,955. Mr. Fernando then exports the cattle to UD Pratama in Atambua.  See below for Bobonaro cattle ready for sale.

Mr. Manek and Mr. Fernando were already exporting cows to Atambua but wanted to export on a larger scale. PDT M3 teams in Covalima and Bobonaro assisted the two middlemen in locating and purchasing cattle across their respective districts, resulting in a marked increase in sales and a cash injection into rural Timor-Leste.

RAFLIMA has a website as well - 

For more information contact Ilidio da Costa Ximenes via iximenes[at]pdtglobal.org or timor-leste[at]pdtglobal.org

PDT Micro Matching activities are funded by AusAID and Eni.

Micromatchmaking in Bobonaro and Covalima Districts

On July 22nd, a Micro Matchmaking team consisting of Domingos Savio, Brigida Soares and Ilidio X da Costa met with Mr. Fernando Mendez, the UNMIT Public Information Officer for Bobonaro. A valuable client, Mr. Mendez regularly contacts Micro Matchmaking staff for assistance in finding goods for personal use and has also informed the UNMIT staff about PDT’s Micro Matchmaking services. At this meeting, Mr. Mendez provided both feedback on the Micro Matchmaking services and updated information on the UNMIT and UNPOL staff in the district. In Bobonaro, Ilidio X da Costa also interviewed Mrs. Jacinta Pereira, a business owner in the Maliana market. Content with the work of the Micro Matchmaking staff, Mrs. Pereira explained that she now supplies Mr. Mendez with fruits, vegetables and local eggs because of a relationship started by the Micro Matchmaking service.
In an effort to further support local business owners, the Micro Matchmaking team interviewed Mr. Marcelino Pinto, a supplier of rattan furniture in Ogues, a suco of Covalima. Mr. Pinto said that, through Micro Matchmaking staff in the districts and in Dili, he has received requests for rattan furniture from OXFAM, UNPOL and a Brazilian teacher. Micro Matchmaking staff also delivered to Mr. Pinto a request quote for rattan furniture from Hotel Esplanada, based in Dili. Given the increase in requests for his products stimulated by the Micro Matchmaking services, Mr. Pinto has decided to purchase a mobile phone to facilitate business transactions.
On July 24th, a Micro Matchmaking team consisting of Maria Barros, Brigida Soares and Ilidio X da Costa met with Mr. Rastatuto Mendonza Padilla, the UNPOL Operation Officer for Covalima. Mr. Padilla expressed his satisfaction with the assistance provided by Micro Matchmaking staff in finding both a house that UNPOL staff now rent and also a local supplier of fresh fish.

Covalima Online - www.buildingmarkets.org

The Peace Dividend Trust Verification Team has completed the first stage of surveying businesses in Covalima District. 58 businesses are now online. The results can be found with a click.

Covalima is out of sight and out of mind, and that is frankly, part of the problem, however there is alot going on in this south coast district.

Comico Suai Diak Company provides Candle nuts, coconuts, coffee, green beans, and other local products.

Desesperado Lda exports cattle. Over $300 000 worth of cattle in the last 2 or 3 years. That is a big deal on the south coast. Senhor Carlos, the owner, is pictured below with PDT Verificatiion Associate Gaspar Quintao da Silva.

Tua Hun Company is an interesting outfit. They actually construct fishing boats, in some in inconsiderable quantities and to a reasonable standard. They do not only sell boats, you can rent from them as well.
Oficina Carpintaria Sao Paulo is a success story born in 2002. It makes windows, doors and frames, bedroom and bathroom furniture and shrine/oratorio. What a wonderful thing 24 hour electricity would be for this business.

And we should not forget Buka Moris / Looking for Lfe Rattan which makes good quality rattan furniture. Since our blog entry in May 2008 Buka Moris has received a large number of orders. So many that they have leected to purchase a mobile phone...?!

Find what you are looking for http://www.buildingmarkets.org/.

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.