Locations“42 youth entrepreneurs in Timor-Leste awarded grants to expand their MSMEs”
Awards Ceremony of the “Path to Business” – 5th Business Innovation Challenge 2025
October 2, 2025
Marking their achievement, 42 young entrepreneurs join the Minister of Commerce and Industry for a group photo at Timor Plaza, Dili.
Sohee Park/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Dili, Timor-Leste, September 29, 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry hosted the awards ceremony of the “Path to Business” – 5th Business Innovation Challenge 2025 at Timor Plaza. This program is a part of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Skills (YEES) project, jointly funded by the Government of Timor-Leste through MCI, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and UNDP Timor-Leste. The program celebrated the Grant award for 42 young entrepreneurs who had completed an intensive eight-day bootcamp on market analysis, business planning, marketing, financial management, the Business Model Canvas, showcasing how their businesses can address social challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At the awarding ceremony, the top three entrepreneurs pitched their innovative business plans to a panel of judges and received feedback and advice to improve their business plans. After evaluating the presentations, the judges announced Saudaveluma, Unipessoal Lda as the 1st-place winner with an additional grant of USD 1,750, T'3 Viegas, Unipessoal Lda as the 2nd-place winner with USD 1,250, and Gimival Catering, Unipessoal Lda as the 3rd-place winner with USD 1,000. In total, 42 young entrepreneurs (22 male and 20 female), including the top three winners, were also awarded grants totaling USD 199,993.50, allocated according to each participant’s proposal to purchase equipment and further expand their Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The winners of the entrepreneurship competition: 1st Winner – Saudaveluma Unipessoal Lda, led by Mr. Ekobiatus Maria da Cruz in Dili, producing innovative products from 90% local ingredients; 2nd Winner – T3 Viegas Unipessoal Lda, founded by Mr. Liborio de Araujo in Manufahi, leading eco-friendly tofu production; and 3rd Winner – Gimival Catering Unipessoal Lda, a women-led business by Ms. Virginia and Ms. Emiliana, adding value with sweet potato juice and other local products.
Julia Belo/ UNDP Timor-Leste
The event was attended by H.E. Mr. Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Nho, Jae-Hee, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea; Mr. JANG, Sung Hwan, Deputy Country Director of KOICA; Ms. Adeline Carrier, UNDP Timor-Leste Deputy Resident Representative; Mr. Virgílio da Silva Guterres, Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice; and Mr. Rui dos Santos, Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (CAC), along with other key partners and distinguished guests.
Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Timor-Leste, Ms. Adeline Carrier, delivers her opening remarks at the awarding ceremony of 5th Business Innovation Challenge, emphasized the impact of the Business Innovation Challenge and congratulated the young entrepreneurs of BIC V
Julia Belo/ UNDP Timor-Leste
In her remarks, Ms. Adeline Carrier, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Timor-Leste, emphasized the impact of the Business Innovation Challenge and congratulated the young entrepreneurs of BIC V: “Since its inception, the Business Innovation Challenge has supported 307 young entrepreneurs with over USD 1.7 million in grants, resulting in more than 230 business registrations and 1,600 new jobs. Behind these numbers are the inspiring journeys of young Timorese who dared to turn their ideas into reality. Today’s presentations were truly wonderful; it is a good business to invest in and exciting to see how products like pumpkin can help fight malnutrition. This is a big issue in Timor-Leste, and we can use local products to diversify diets, especially for children. It may also be a good opportunity to partner with the Ministry of Education to improve children’s diets, particularly in remote areas. Congratulations to all the winners and all the participants. Together with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, UNDP, and KOICA, we continue to stand with you and young Timorese entrepreneurs to work into the sustainable development, economic development of team investing.”
First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Nho, Jae-Hee, underlined: “For a developing country, building a strong investment base is essential for sustainable economic growth.
Julia Belo/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Representing the Embassy of the Republic of Korea of Timor-Leste and KOICA, Mr. Nho, Jae-Hee, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, underlined: “For a developing country, building a strong investment base is essential for sustainable economic growth. This is why KOICA, together with the Government of Timor-Leste and UNDP, remains committed to advancing the YEES project. I would like to encourage not only today’s winners, but all participants of the fifth batch to continue building on your achievements. As pioneers in Timor-Leste’s business landscape, your efforts will lay a solid foundation for national development and future cooperation between the business communities of Korea and Timor-Leste. The Korean Embassy and KOICA will continue to seek opportunities for collaboration, and please know that you can always count on us to stand by your side.”
Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Mr. Nino Pereira, highlighted the commitment to support MSMEs and congratulated the winners.
Julia Belo/ UNDP Timor-Leste
Representing the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Mr. Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the commitment to support MSMEs and congratulated the winners: “MSMEs face many challenges, including limited access to finance, weak infrastructure, lack of skilled labour, and complex regulations. For this reason, the Government of Timor-Leste is taking bold steps to strengthen support for MSMEs. Congratulations to our winners, your success is not just personal – it is national. You are paving the way for other entrepreneurs and proving that Timorese businesses can be competitive, creative, and resilient. We also thank our partners, particularly UNDP and the YEES Project; without your collaboration and technical support, this initiative would not have achieved such reach and impact.”
Ekobiatus da Cruz, says: Many thanks to the IX Constitutional Government through MCI, UNDP, and KOICA for their full support to our young Timorese businesses. With this funding, I will purchase production equipment to expand operations and create more jobs for young people. Currently, our team consists of 8 staff (6 women and 2 men). With this support, and by increasing production, we aim to recruit 8 more young people (4 women and 4 men).
Julia Belo/ UNDP Timor-Leste
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will sign a contract to provide grants to the 42 beneficiaries of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) participating in the fifth phase of the Business Innovation Challenge. These grants will provide entrepreneurs with the necessary equipment and materials to expand their businesses, supporting economic development by creating opportunities for additional job creation.
Moving forward, UNDP, in close partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste and KOICA, is committed to nurturing young entrepreneurs as catalysts of change, while driving economic diversification and creating jobs for a more sustainable future.
About UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading development organization in Timor-Leste, working to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience to climate and disaster risks. Since 1999, UNDP has supported Timor-Leste in strengthening democratic governance, inclusive economic growth, social cohesion, environmental protection, and the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through its economic portfolio, UNDP is working closely with the Government and communities to advance sustainable employment, entrepreneurship development, and economic diversification across all municipalities.
Related
content
content
