Noe confirmed that the Council of Ministers had approved visa-free travel, expected to be implemented “this year”, when the agreement came before them.

"We want to improve business relations with our neighbour  and develop other business sectors,” Noe said Friday.

He said making access to the Indonesian market easier was vitally important to making local businesses more competitive.

Since 2015, Timor-Leste has had mutual visa-waiver agreements with Cape Verde and the European Union.

Citizens from Cape Verde receive visa waivers for stays of up to 30 days, and citizens of European Union states that are contracting parties to Schengen Agreement are granted a visa waiver for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Timor-Leste also has a visa exemption for holders of service or diplomatic passports from China and Australia.