As part of the official mission to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Francisco da Costa Monteiro, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, participated in the 47th Independence Day celebrations of Solomon Islands, held in Honiara on 7 July. The Minister attended the ceremonies at the invitation of the Office of the Prime Minister, reaffirming the deepening friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
On the margins of the national celebration, Minister Monteiro held bilateral meetings with the Honourable Peter Shanel Agovaka MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and the Honourable Derrick Rawcliff Manuari, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification.
In the meeting with Minister Agovaka, Minister Monteiro conveyed heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of Solomon Islandsβ Independence Day and expressed support for the countryβs upcoming role as Chair of the g7+. Both sides discussed the value of strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in natural resource management, and welcomed ongoing exchanges under the g7+ framework.
During the meeting with Minister Manuari, Minister Monteiro introduced the institutional delegation accompanying him and shared Timor-Lesteβs experience in the governance and development of the petroleum and mineral sectors. The ministers discussed potential cooperation in geological mapping, capacity building, and the legal and institutional frameworks governing extractive industries.
The visit reflects Timor-Lesteβs commitment to fragile to fragile countries cooperation and its active participation in peer learning on natural resource management through the g7+ initiative.