Heads of States Reinforce Delhi-Dili Bond

President H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste is on a visit to India from January 8-10, 2024, attending the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in Gandhinagar. This marks the first-ever visit by a Head of State or Government between the two nations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed President Horta and his delegation, highlighting the inaugural nature of the visit and India's dedication to strengthening the "Delhi-Dili" connection. The opening of the Indian Mission in Timor-Leste, announced in September 2023, further reinforces this commitment.

The leaders discussed potential collaborations in various sectors, including capacity building, IT, fintech, energy, agriculture, defence, trade, and healthcare. The Prime Minister invited Timor-Leste to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), reflecting shared interests in sustainable development.

President Horta expressed Timor-Leste's interest in India's support, especially in healthcare and IT capacity building. He also met with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during his visit. 

The bilateral ties between India and Timor-Leste are rooted in common democratic values and plurality. India, one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste, participated in its Independence Day celebrations in May 2002. Timor-Leste supports India's bid for permanent membership in the UNSC. The two nations have enjoyed active trade relations and collaborations in health, pharmacy, and agriculture. India has further facilitated trade by granting duty-free access to imports from Timor-Leste under the Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).