Bali and Timor-Leste are exploring new opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation through trade, business, and education. The discussions took place during the Bali–Timor-Leste Business Forum, held at the Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center in Bali, bringing together government representatives and business leaders from both sides.
Arya Wedakarna, a member of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) and an initiator of the forum, highlighted the significant potential to expand trade between Bali and Timor-Leste. Indonesia–Timor-Leste trade is currently valued at around US$230 million, while approximately 100,000 visitors from Timor-Leste travel to Bali each year for tourism, shopping, healthcare, and education. With direct flights connecting the two destinations, he sees opportunities to further develop these existing connections into stronger economic partnerships.
One of the key outcomes of the forum is a plan to establish a business consortium involving entrepreneurs from Bali and Timor-Leste. The consortium is expected to facilitate export-import activities and connect businesses from both markets more directly. Beyond trade, education was also identified as an important area for cooperation, with around 550 students from Timor-Leste currently studying at universities in Bali. With dozens of public and private higher education institutions across the island, the sector offers further opportunities for collaboration and exchange.
The forum also emphasized the importance of aligning business cooperation with government policies to ensure sustainable and long-term growth. With Timor-Leste becoming part of ASEAN, the growing connections between the two neighboring countries could create new opportunities for regional cooperation and contribute to stronger economic integration in Southeast Asia.