Kupang - Chairman of the East Nusa Tenggara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin NTT), Bobby Lianto, warmly welcomed the visit of Timor-Leste’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Nino Pereira, in Kupang on Monday, June 30, 2025.

This visit was far more than a ceremonial event. From the outset, the agenda was filled with concrete initiatives, notably a Business Forum that brought together entrepreneurs from both nations.

Bobby reaffirmed Kadin NTT’s full support for the upcoming Trade Expo in Timor-Leste, scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 1, 2025.

“We deeply appreciate the invitation extended by Minister Nino. This is a golden opportunity for businesses in NTT to explore new export markets,” Bobby stated.

The forum, held at Hotel Harper Kupang, was attended by local entrepreneurs, business associations, government agencies, and strategic partners. The discussions were dynamic and productive, highlighting the significant trade potential between NTT and Timor-Leste.

Minister Nino expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome extended by Kadin NTT. He praised the consistent efforts of Bobby Lianto and his team, who have now facilitated three such forums.

“I am delighted to be back here. Our relationship continues to grow stronger. I also appreciate the investments made by NTT entrepreneurs in Timor-Leste,” he remarked.

Beyond the forum, Bobby also shared plans to involve the national Kadin (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) as well as the East Java Kadin, in order to further strengthen bilateral trade relations. Minister Nino is also scheduled to attend the upcoming Kadin Diplomatic Gathering on July 11 in Jakarta.

“We aim to make this partnership more tangible. It requires synergy from the national to the regional level,” Bobby emphasized.

Following the forum, Minister Nino continued his working visit by meeting with the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara. During the audience, he formally invited the Governor to serve as a keynote speaker at the Trade Expo in Timor-Leste — an invitation that was enthusiastically received by the provincial government.

Minister Nino’s itinerary continued with a visit to the Impres Market, accompanied by the Mayor of Kupang, Dr. Christian Widodo, where he observed local trade activities firsthand. The visit served as an opportunity to gain insights from NTT’s distribution systems.

The delegation then proceeded to the Bolok Industrial Zone and Bolok Port. Accompanied by representatives from INSA NTT and Pelindo, Minister Nino directly observed the significant potential of the port as a strategic hub for bilateral export-import activities.

The tour also included a visit to a Sandalwood (Cendana) factory — one of NTT’s high-value commodities. Minister Nino appeared enthusiastic as he engaged in discussions with the factory management regarding potential exports of this product to Timor-Leste.

In the evening, the day concluded on a more relaxed yet still strategic note at La Moringa, where Minister Nino met again with Kadin NTT leadership and was welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of Kupang, Serena Francis.

This series of forums, visits, and business dialogues — all in a single day — clearly illustrates the strengthening economic cooperation between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, particularly in trade. Kadin NTT, under the leadership of Bobby Lianto, has emerged as a vital connector in fostering cross-border relations between the two countries.