At the invitation of the Government of Solomon Islands and under the framework of the g7+ initiative, a high-level delegation from Timor-Leste, led by His Excellency Francisco da Costa Monteiro, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, participated in the seminar titled “Building Regional Partnerships Through Peer Learning and Sharing of Experience on Natural Resource Management.”
The Minister was joined by key institutions under the Ministry, including the National Authority for Minerals (ANM), Murak Rai Timor (MRT), the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and the Institute of Geoscience of Timor-Leste (IGTL).
The seminar opened with remarks from Hon. Derrick Rawcliff Manuari, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification of Solomon Islands; Dr. Helder da Costa, General Secretary of the g7+; and H.E. Minister Monteiro. In his intervention, Minister Monteiro emphasized the importance of country-driven approaches to resource management and highlighted Timor-Leste’s experience in building legal and institutional frameworks to ensure transparency, participation, and long-term benefits from its natural resources.
The event featured interactive sessions on petroleum and mining governance, mining industry development, transparency initiatives, and geological studies, with active participation from both Timorese and Solomon Islands institutions.
This peer learning seminar marked a significant step in deepening cooperation between Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands, providing a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge and exploring collaborative pathways to strengthen resource governance in fragile and transitioning economies.