National Member of Parliament MP Ilda Maria da Conceição said the Timorese government will need to improve the conditions within the country first so that Timor-Leste can adhere to ASEAN, rather than undertaking negotiations with other regional countries.
The MP added that one of the issues is that Timor-Leste has insufficient human resources in order to adhere to ASEAN.
“Our human resources are not capable yet. Whatever we say, if we do not look within our country, it will be useless,” said MP Conceição at the National Parliament, in Dili.
She warned also that if Timor-Leste becomes part of ASEAN, other foreign nationals will come and try to find jobs in the country and given the lack of qualified and trained human resources, the job market will be dominated by foreign workers.
“Because those people who will come here are skilled but how about our people? Where will they go,” she asked.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC) Hernani Coelho said the ASEAN preparedness working group conducted one of the final assessments in 2014.
“They have conducted already the policy and security assessment and they will do the economic assessment. Then we will see what will happen next,” said Minister Coelho.
However, the Minister is optimistic that Timor-Leste will be able to join ASEAN.In relation to improving the human resources of Timor-Leste, Minister Coelho added that one of the strategies is to continue to send Timorese to study to improve the quality of their education.
