H.E. Mr. Kimura Tetsuya, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, stated: “These proposals demonstrate the creativity and strong commitment of young entrepreneurs in Timor-Leste leading a resilient and sustainable blue economy. We believe that efforts like these -  combining innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional collaboration - are especially important now, as Timor-Leste’s official accession to ASEAN approaches. Such initiatives will play a key role in supporting long-term resilience and prosperity. To the winners from Timor-Leste: congratulations once again. Your ideas represent not only the future of the blue economy, but also the potential of Timor-Leste’s next generation of leaders and changemakers.”

Ms. Katyna Argueta, UNDP Resident Representative in Timor-Leste, added: “Today’s workshop is more than just a celebration of four entrepreneurs - it is a platform to engage all key stakeholders in shaping the future of innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation in Timor-Leste. Through this collective engagement, we can unlock new pathways for sustainable growth and prosperity for Timor-Leste and the wider region.”

Mr. Reinaldo Borges, National Director of MSMEs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, stated: “What we are doing today reflects the work that the Ministry has long been committed to, in close collaboration with UNDP - particularly in advancing economic diversification. We are implementing three major programmes to support this agenda: first, the Business Innovation Challenge; second, the Soft Loan Scheme; and third, our effort to help informal micro-businesses, especially street vendors, transition into the formal micro-enterprise sector.”