Timor-Leste’s DGOT and Portugal’s DGT sign Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in territorial planning, geospatial information and geodesy
LISBON, 20 August 2026 — The Directorate-General for Territorial Planning (DGOT) of Timor-Leste and the Directorate-General for Territory (DGT) of Portugal today signed, in Lisbon, a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation in the areas of territorial planning, geospatial information and geodesy.
The Memorandum was signed by the Director-General for Territorial Planning of Timor-Leste, Roger Tertuliano de F. B. Belo, and the Director-General of the Territory of Portugal, Fernanda Maria Rosa do Carmo Julião.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment of Timor-Leste, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, and the Secretary of State for Local Administration and Territorial Planning of Portugal, Silvério Regalado.
A new framework for institutional cooperation
The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for cooperation between Timor-Leste’s DGOT and Portugal’s DGT, enabling the development of joint initiatives and activities, including the sharing of knowledge and good practices, technical assistance, training, exchanges of technical staff and specialists, and internship programmes.
The cooperation will place particular emphasis on improving legislation in the areas of territorial planning, spatial planning, geospatial information and geodesy, as well as strengthening the technical and institutional capacities of DGOT Timor-Leste.
The areas of cooperation envisaged include sharing Portugal’s experience in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of legislation, territorial programmes and plans; developing solutions for the production and management of geospatial information; monitoring land occupation and land use; strengthening geodetic infrastructure; and providing specialised training for Timorese technical staff.
Supporting the consolidation of the National Territorial Planning System
The partnership aims to contribute to the consolidation of Timor-Leste’s National Territorial Planning System, which already has its own legal framework, a National Territorial Planning Plan, the first approved municipal plans, new municipal and urban plans currently under development, and a national structure dedicated to geospatial information.
During the ceremony, the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment of Timor-Leste highlighted the importance of making use of the experience accumulated by Portugal’s DGT, adapting good practices to the Timor-Leste context and creating opportunities for technical staff from both institutions to work together.
Portugal expresses strong commitment to cooperation
For his part, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Local Administration and Territorial Planning expressed his interest and strong commitment to developing, together with Timor-Leste, an effective cooperation programme in the areas covered by the Memorandum of Understanding.
This cooperation will draw on the experience and expertise of Portugal’s DGT, as well as other Portuguese institutions, contributing to the strengthening of Timor-Leste’s capacities and systems in the field of territorial planning.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding represents a new step in institutional cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal and establishes a basis for the development of concrete actions that can contribute to strengthening national capacities in territorial planning and sustainable territorial management.