LABUAN, 5 August 2025 — His Excellency Abel Guterres, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Brunei, concluded a productive visit to Labuan last week, aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and exploring opportunities in energy, logistics, and finance.
The visit followed earlier discussions during a diplomatic engagement in Brunei, where Labuan’s strengths in the oil and gas industry and its role as an International Business and Financial Centre (IBFC) were identified as areas of interest to support Timor-Leste’s development goals.
Azhar Bin Othman, Chairman of LDA Labuan (Holdings) Sdn Bhd as well as BIMP-EAGA Business Council Labuan, welcomed the Ambassador upon his arrival. CEO Noor Halim Datuk Haji Zaini led a comprehensive briefing on the island’s logistics and connectivity infrastructure, highlighting Labuan’s strategic maritime position.
The delegation then proceeded to the Financial Park Complex, where the Ambassador was received by the Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA). The newly appointed Director General, Mr. Affendi Rashdi, and senior officials provided an overview of Labuan’s financial ecosystem and discussed potential avenues for financial cooperation.
Following a networking lunch, the Ambassador visited Asian Supply Base Sdn Bhd, one of Malaysia’s largest onshore supply bases. CEO Datuk Japar Esteban presented the company’s operations and role in supporting offshore activities, followed by a tour of the facilities. His Excellency expressed admiration for Labuan’s capacity to serve the broader energy sector and noted the potential relevance to Timor-Leste’s own oil and gas aspirations.
In the evening, Ambassador Guterres attended the Borneo Flora Festival, held for the first time in Labuan. The festival attracted more than 100,000 visitors and showcased regional culture and biodiversity, adding a vibrant cultural highlight to the Ambassador’s itinerary.
Later that evening, the Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. The Minister expressed her appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for strengthening ties with Timor-Leste. Ambassador Guterres shared his excitement about Timor-Leste’s upcoming inauguration as ASEAN’s newest member in October, marking a historic milestone for the nation.
On the following day, His Excellency participated in an informal roundtable discussion with local business leaders, focused on potential partnerships in trade, investment, and infrastructure development. The session highlighted mutual interests and opened pathways for future collaboration.
As the visit concluded, both sides expressed optimism for stronger bilateral engagement.
The successful visit was made possible with the support and coordination of multiple stakeholders. Their efforts were instrumental in creating meaningful connections and setting the foundation for long-term cooperation.
