The signing ceremony took place as President Ramos-Horta visited the tiny southeast Asian country for talks with Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Hassanal Bolkiah, during which they agreed to allow companies in Brunie hire workers from Timor-Leste in various sectors including hospitality, Ramos-Horta said.

The two leaders also agreed to further enhance the goodwill and friendship between their two countries.

Timor-Leste and the Sultanate first established diplomatic relations in 2002.

The MOU was signed by Timor-Leste’s Vice Prime Minister, the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment Francisco Kalbuadi Lay and the Brunean counterparts.