TIMOR LESTE TO STUDY M'SIAN HUMAN CAPITAL

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- Timor Leste hopes to learn more from
Malaysia on its human capital development, especially in the technical and
educational fields.

Its ambassador here, Juvencio de Jesus Martins, said for that reason, he had
been in talks with the education ministry to develop an education model for his
country.

"I hope to hear good news from the Malaysian Government on this matter soon.


"Besides, the talks also include teachers training programme and providing
more opportunities for our students to further their tertiary studies here," he
told reporters after being interviewed on the 'Voices From the South' programme
on Traxxfm's radio station at Angkasapuri, Malaysia's national broadcasting
station, here Wednesday.

Timor Leste, a small nation of 1.1 million people in the eastern half of
Timor island, has a low human development index (HDI) and is placed 158th among
the world HDI standing.

The ambassador said a delegation from Dili will arrive here next week to
study the development and management of power plants in the country.

He also hoped that more Malaysian investors would consider investing in the
country.

"We are optimistic that the bilateral trade between both countries could
improve further despite its very low volume at present.

"The areas that they could explore are plantation, agriculture and
construction," he said

Timor Leste gained its independence from Indonesia in 2002.

On Timor Leste's political development, Martins said the government under
the leadership of President Jose Ramos-Horta was working towards restoring peace
and stability in the country, after years of political turbulance.

"The political situation now is quite stable, and we are working very hard
to perserve it as we realise it is an important core to ensure our country
develops in other vital fields," he said.

"This year, we are focusing our development to include food security, human
resource development and improving the accessibility of the justice system to
the people," said Martins.

He hoped both governments would work to abolish travel visa to further
facilitate travel and tourism between people of both countries.
-- BERNAMA