Dr. Jose Goncalves has his attention firmly focused on expanding investment opportunities in Timor-Leste. He is a senior investment advisor at the Ministry of Development and Environment, providing technical assistance on policies, legislation, and programs to attract capital, technology, and know-how to the new nation.

Dr. Goncalves recently facilitated the first investment forum held by the government of Timor-Leste. Among those attending were representatives of the private and public sectors, including local business associations, directors of several government ministries, Timor-Leste's 13 district administrators, academics, and members of the donor community. During the forum, stakeholders worked through and agreed on a strategy on private investment policy. The issues ranged from where the businesses community should get information to facilitate new investment and improve their business skills, to whether Timor-Leste should have one law covering all investors or two laws--one for domestic investors and another for foreign investors that would spell out the guarantees, incentives, and benefits for domestic and foreign investors.

The stakeholders agreed to recommend a three-tiered system to support economic development.

• Those in the first tier--microentrepreneurs--will receive support from social and economic affairs officers assigned recently in Timor-Leste's 13 districts.

• Small and medium-scale enterprises will have access to advice from business development centers. Four of these centers are open for business already in Dili, Baucau, Oecusse, and Maliana. A fifth center is planned for Maubisse.

• Foreign investors and Timorese exporters will be supported through an autonomous agency specially created by the government to promote and support this level of investment.

"The government will support the creation of an investment promotion framework to allow the private sector to take a lead role in economic development," Dr. Goncalves said. "This framework is expected to be friendly to investment and promote job creation."

Dr. Goncalves is an investment expert with Nathan Associates, Inc, a USAID implementing partner. USAID supports Dr. Goncalves' work at the Ministry of Development and Environment, and through it the promotion of a robust free-market economy that is open to trade and foreign investment to create employment and increase incomes.