The Council authorised  Finance Minister Santina Cardoso to sign a grant agreement with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for a forest restoration and sustainable management programme running from 2026 to 2033. The project, worth about US$6 million, will focus on the municipalities of Baucau and Manatuto, aiming to prevent environmental degradation, expand reforestation and improve institutional capacity.

Timor-Leste’s forests are considered among the most ecologically significant in the region, with environmental sources noting they contain rare tropical dry forest ecosystems and high levels of biodiversity, including endemic plant and animal species. However, these forests face pressure from land clearing, fuelwood collection and climate-related impacts.

At the same April 8 meeting, the government also approved the architectural design for the new Dili Convention Centre, a flagship project planned to support the country’s ASEAN presidency in 2029. The centre will be built along Dili Bay at the site of the old port and will include conference halls, exhibition spaces and tourism facilities such as a waterfront promenade, aquarium and retail area.

The Council also endorsed a separate KOICA-funded programme worth around US$7.2 million to improve nutrition and food security through school feeding, infrastructure upgrades and support for local agriculture across four municipalities