LocationsYouth Entrepreneurship Expo Marks International MSMEs Day by Celebrating MSMEs’ contribution to Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development.
Empowering the Excellence of Timor-Leste's MSMEs
July 8, 2026
Dili, 8 July 2026 – From 4 to 5 July, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), in partnership with UNDP, held the Youth Entrepreneurship Expo 2026 at Timor Plaza to celebrate International MSMEs Day - 27 June, through the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Skills (YEES) Project—a joint initiative funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), MCI, and UNDP Timor-Leste. The Expo celebrates the immense contribution of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as the backbone of Timor-Leste’s economic future, creating jobs, generating income, driving innovation, and strengthening local value chains to build a more inclusive and resilient economy.
The two-day Expo brought together more than 21 youth‑ and women‑led businesses from across Timor-Leste, providing a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services, expand market opportunities, connect with potential customers and investors, and engage directly with policymakers, financial institutions, and private sector partners. Featuring a Product Showcase, Youth Conversation and MSME Policy Dialogue, and Business Demonstration Session, the Expo attracted more than 1,569 visitors and convened senior government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, and other key stakeholders to support entrepreneurship, MSME growth, and inclusive economic development in Timor-Leste.
In his remarks, UNDP-YEES Project Manager, Mr. Hunjai Lee higligthed, "MSMEs are the backbone of Timor-Leste's economy. Through our partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) and KOICA, we have supported 305 young entrepreneurs with more than USD 1.64 million in scale-up funding, enabling them to transform innovative ideas into thriving businesses that create jobs and contribute to Timor-Leste's sustainable development.”
Representing the Government of Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr. CHANG Ha Yeon, Ambassador of Republic of Korea underlined: "With Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN, we look forward to seeing even greater business opportunities unlock. Integrating into this vibrant regional market will open new doors for innovation and cross-border expansion, allowing young businesses to thrive on a larger stage. Your innovation is the foundation of this nation's prosperity, and we are honored to stand alongside you. "
Representing the IX Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Mr. Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry, underscored: “The Government of Timor-Leste remains firmly committed to creating an enabling environment that allows MSMEs to grow and compete. Through improved business policies, stronger access to finance, expanded market opportunities, entrepreneurship development, and closer collaboration with the private sector and development partners, we aim to build a vibrant MSME ecosystem that can compete not only in the domestic market but also within the ASEAN region. As Timor-Leste advances its ASEAN integration, strengthening the competitiveness of our MSMEs will be essential to ensuring that our businesses can seize opportunities arising from regional economic integration.”
As Timor-Leste advances its sustainable development agenda, MSMEs remain central to building a diversified and inclusive economy. The Expo is expected to strengthen MSMEs’ understanding of regulatory requirements, business support services, and investment opportunities, strengthen connections between entrepreneurs and private sector actors, increase awareness of MSME-focused financing and digital payment solutions, and foster stronger collaboration among government, financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector to create a more enabling environment for enterprise growth.
Through the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Skills (YEES) Project, UNDP remains committed to expanding economic opportunities for young people by fostering entrepreneurship, strengthening business capacities, and increasing access to employment and livelihood opportunities across Timor-Leste.
