TRADE INVEST

What TRADE INVEST does

TradeInvest Timor-Leste (legally, the Investment and Export Promotion Agency, I.P.) is a public institution established by Decree Law No. 45/2015 to promote, facilitate, monitor, and advocate private investment and export activities in Timor-Leste. It operates as a government-mandated one-stop shop serving three primary segments: foreign investors seeking market entry, foreign buyers sourcing Timorese products, and domestic firms pursuing export readiness. The agency focuses on four pillar sectors: Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Processing Industry, with the broader policy goal of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas dependency.

The agency's core technology infrastructure includes the ASYCUDA World Single Window electronic customs declaration system (in which TradeInvest was the first government agency to implement), an Investment Tracking System, and the Timor-Leste Exporter Guide digital platform (launched 2022). These systems support regulatory facilitation, investor registration, and export documentation. The organization also operates digital resource libraries including the Investment Guide (2023 edition), sector-specific factsheets, and an Export Promotion Digital Mapping tool built on baseline data collected with CNIC/UNTL between 2017-2020.

TradeInvest's business model is government-funded: it charges no fees for its core services and is financed through the national budget under Private Investment Law No. 15/2017. Revenue mechanics are non-commercial, with the agency's value delivered through incentives facilitation (up to 100% income tax exemption, up to 100% customs duty exemption on capital goods), B2B matchmaking events, trade missions, capacity-building workshops, and the annual Export Awards program (running since 2017). The go-to-market is direct engagement at its Dili headquarters, supplemented by international trade fair participation (Manila FAME, Macau Franchise Expo, CPLP Business Forum) and bilateral partnerships with multilateral agencies including the EU, ILO, UNDP, USAID, and governments of Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Name

TRADE INVEST

Legal name

Investment and Export Promotion Agency, I.P. (TradeInvest Timor-Leste)

Website

https://tradeinvest.tl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

TradeInvest Timor-Leste is a government investment and export promotion agency serving foreign investors, foreign buyers, and domestic firms across tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and processing industry sectors as a one-stop-shop facilitator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment and Export Promotion Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Facilitation & Customs Modernization (BPADAMAB), Interagency/International Information Exchange & Cooperation (BPAIADAN)

Keywords

• Investment promotion services
• Export facilitation services
• Foreign direct investment
• Trade development agency
• Customs facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Dili

HQ country

Timor-Leste

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: TradeInvest Timor-Leste is a public institution (Investment and Export Promotion Agency, I.P.) funded by government budget to promote, facilitate, monitor, and advocate private investment and exports based on Decree Law number 45/2015.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TradeInvest Timor-Leste (Investment and Export Promotion Agency, I.P.) is a government agency that promotes and facilitates private investment and export activities in Timor-Leste. It serves as a one-stop-shop providing investment information, company registration support, investment incentives facilitation, export readiness assessment, matchmaking between domestic firms and foreign buyers, and access to customs processing via the Single Window ASYCUDA World system across tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and processing industry sectors.

Product overview

TradeInvest Timor-Leste (Investment and Export Promotion Agency, I.P.) operates as a government trade facilitation organization offering investment promotion services, export promotion services, and digital resources for investors and exporters. The core offerings include Investment Promotion Services and Export Promotion Services, supported by digital resources such as the Timor-Leste Exporter Guide (2022 Edition) and the Investment Guide (2023 Edition). The agency also facilitates access to the Single Window ASYCUDA World system for customs processing and organizes the annual Export Awards Program to recognizeExporter of the Year and Potential Exporter categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Exporter Guide: Online resource developed by TradeInvest Timor-Leste to facilitate investors, exporters and companies intending to export from and import to Timor-Leste

Products and services

• Investment Promotion Services Services for foreign investors including information on doing business in Timor-Leste, liaison with professional service providers, land identification for investment projects, company registration assistance, and post-investment aftercare services.
• Export Promotion Services Assessment of export readiness for domestic firms, provision of foreign market analytical data, organization of matchmaking events, assistance in finding overseas buyers, and support for participation in foreign trade shows and missions.
• Timor-Leste Exporter Guide A comprehensive online guide (2022 Edition) covering export procedures, market research, export plans, import procedures, trade schemes, incentives, logistics services, and export financing for Timor-Leste exporters.
• Investment Guide A comprehensive guide (2023 Edition) providing information for investors on Timor-Leste's investment environment, procedures, and opportunities across priority sectors.
• Export Awards Program Annual initiative organized by the Export Promotion Directorate to recognize and encourage efforts by enterprises exporting Timor-Leste's products to international markets, with categories including Exceptional Exporter, Potential Exporter, and Youth Social Business Startups with export orientation.
• Factsheets and Reports Various downloadable factsheets covering corporate taxation, personal taxation, labour, starting a business, investment incentives, land, legal framework, product sectors, commercial fishing licensing, and import/export procedures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Application process for incentives takes maximum 18 working days including technical assessments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• European Union (EU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023EU is funding the Agroforestry Skills for Employment and Resilience Project with a budget of 5.9 million Euros over four years starting September 2023. The project aims to promote green and sustainable economic diversification and resilience in Timor-Leste through private sector development, TVET for youth integration, and quality employment opportunities particularly for young women and girls.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023ILO is implementing the EU-funded Agroforestry Skills Project providing technical expertise for training programs on export trade and business capabilities for agroforestry sector. Two-day intensive training programs cover identifying export markets, meeting international quality standards, and navigating export procedures.
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID) - Tourism for All ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2022Collaboration on Cristo-Rei tourism re-development public consultation in PPP modality. USAID supports tourism sector development through Tourism for All project which aims to increase Timor-Leste tourism income through inclusive approach, private investment facilitation, and environmental preservation.
• Northern Territory Government AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 July 2022Re-establishing technical agreement for technical assistance in investment and exports promotion and capacity building. TradeInvest team visited Darwin from 25-29 July 2022 to hold technical coordination meetings with Department of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, NT Farmers Association, NT Seafood Council, and NT International Business Council.
• Timor-Leste Consulate General in DarwinsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 July 2022Assisted and collaborated with TradeInvest Timor-Leste on the official visit to Darwin Australia to facilitate technical agreement and investment/export promotion activities.
• Government of New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2022Bilateral Agreement signed between Timor-Leste and New Zealand as part of WTO accession requirements. Opens market gateway for movement of goods, services and people.
• Government of AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2022Bilateral Agreement signed as part of Timor-Leste's WTO accession requirements. Opens market gateway for movement of goods, services and people with products of three countries treated equally.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2022Technical work coordination meeting held to facilitate UNDP's mapping of small and medium enterprises in Timor-Leste. TradeInvest, through Directorate of Export Promotion, provides list of companies doing business in all sectors to support UNDP's ongoing work.
• Kenja KKminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2022Japanese company facilitated by TradeInvest and Embassy of Timor-Leste in Japan. Delegation visited Timor-Leste from 8-14 July 2022 to explore investment opportunities across productive sectors. Various meetings held with line ministries, autonomous agencies, and private sector.
• USAIDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2022USAID Tourism for All Project presentation to H.E. Vice Prime Minister on strategic investment in tourism sector. Project objective is to enlarge and increase Timor-Leste tourism income through inclusive approach and sustainability, facilitating private investment through cooperation with government.
• Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MTCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry that TradeInvest collaborates with on various investment and export promotion activities including Cristo-Rei re-development, WTO accession support, and export documentation.
• Ministry of FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry collaborating with TradeInvest on Cristo-Rei re-development PPP consultation and WTO accession process.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IPA Australia (Investment Promotion Agency): Australia's national investment promotion agency, counterpart to TradeInvest under bilateral cooperation agreements. Comparable mandate to attract FDI and support outbound trade.
• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore's government agency championing enterprise development and investment promotion, with similar mission to grow domestic companies and attract foreign investment. Operates as a statutory board with similar one-stop mandate.
• Department of Trade and Industry Philippines (DTI): Philippines' trade and industry department responsible for investment promotion, export development, and consumer protection. Regional ASEAN peer with comparable office structure and SME-focused programs.
• Thailand Board of Investment (BOI): Thailand's investment promotion agency offering tax incentives, customs facilitation, and one-stop services similar to TradeInvest's offerings. Most established regional IPA with sophisticated incentive frameworks.
• Malaysia Industrial Development Authority (MIDA): Malaysia's principal investment promotion agency operating as a one-stop-shop for foreign investors, with similar mandate to attract FDI into manufacturing and services. Comparable in statutory authority and government-backed mandate to TradeInvest.
• Indonesia's BKPM (Investment Coordinating Board): Indonesia's central investment promotion agency with similar one-stop-shop mandate and statutory authority to coordinate line ministries for FDI approvals. Operates as a government institute with comparable scope to TradeInvest.
• New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE): New Zealand's national economic development agency supporting exporters and attracting FDI. Directly comparable as NZTE has bilateral capacity-building cooperation with TradeInvest (Darwin, WTO accession).

Others

• International Trade Centre (ITC): Joint UN/WTO agency supporting SME export readiness in developing countries. Comparable program design (exporter guides, trade fairs, capacity building) to TradeInvest's export promotion services.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme): Multi-lateral development partner actively working with TradeInvest on SME mapping and export promotion. Relevant as an enabling/ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Fiji Trade and Investment Commission (FTIB): Pacific nation investment and trade promotion agency with similar mandate to a small-economy, donor-supported IPA. Comparable institutional scale and Pacific regional context to TradeInvest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TRADE INVEST