Project News

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and the Project organized a signing ceremony on sales of local rice for the related stakeholders at the Embassy of Japan in Dili on May 30, 2018 with attendance of total of 90 participants including H.E. Mr. Estanislau da Silva, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, H.E. Mr. Manuel F. Da Canossa Vong, Minister of Tourism, H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Minami, Ambassador of Japan and other distinguished guests of the MAF, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), Embassy of Japan and JICA.

As for the preparation for systems of rice distribution/sales, the Project has been providing its technical support for the CAAKUB, a farmers' association of Maliana and the ACELDA, a private company from Baucau in finding and connecting them to markets and better promoting their rice among the Timorese people. In case of the CAAKUB, the Project and the MAF have been technically supporting it in selling the rice at the MAF in Dili since May, 2017.

Furthermore, the Project and the MAF has recently started to support the CAAKUB and the ACELDA in connecting them to new markets such as restaurants and hotels in Dili so that they can promote and sell their rice in more effective and sustainable manners. As a result, they could identify six restaurants and two hotels that are willing to serve their rice to their customers.

Therefore, this signing ceremony was held to commemorate the event that the CAAKUB and the ACELDA sign the first contract on sales of the rice with those restaurants and hotels under the official witnesses of the Government of Timor-Leste and to further promote local rice among the related stakeholders.

In his remarks, H.E. Mr. Estanislau da Silva praised the mutual effort by the Agro-Commerce of the MAF and the Project of marketing the farmers' produce to several hotels and restaurants in Dili although it is just the beginning stage of promoting local rice to the new market. On the other hand, H.E. Mr. Manuel F. Da Canossa Vong urged the hotel and restaurant owners to serve local rice to the tourists and visitors so that they can discover unique local foods of Timor-Leste.

Ms. Trindade M. de Cepeda, Representative of Megamor Restaurant, thanked the MAF and the Project for introducing local rice of the CAAKUB and the ACELDA to her restaurant. Ms. Trindade said that she decided to serve local rice at her restaurant because it is nutritious and safe for consumption. She finally requested the CAAKUB and the ACELDA to continuously provide supply of local rice with good quality to her restaurant.

Scene of the Signing Ceremony.

Representatives of the restaurants and hotels in the Signing Ceremony.

Ms. Trindade M. de Cepeda, Representative of Megamor Restaurant.

Mr. Manuel F. Da Canossa Vong and Mr. Estanislau da Silva giving the certificate on use of local rice to the representatives of restaurants and hotels.

Mr. Masafumi Nagaishi, the Chief Representative of JICA Timor-Leste Office, giving the certificate on use of local rice to the representatives of restaurants and hotels.

Group photo of the participants in the Signing Ceremony.

Logo issued by the Agro-Commerce for restaurants and hotels which serve 100% domestic rice.