Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – The government of the United Kingdom declared its support for Timor Leste after the country was officially accepted as the 11th member of ASEAN at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 26.
The British Ambassador to ASEAN, Helen Fazey, noted that London's involvement in this process is not a new development. Timor Leste has been involved in various regional cooperations long before obtaining full membership status.
"Before their official membership, they have been included in our economic integration programs, health, and various other initiatives," said Fazey in a media briefing at the British Embassy in South Jakarta on Friday, November 21, 2025.
According to her, the UK has prepared assistance to help Timor Leste adapt to its obligations and opportunities as a member of the regional organization. "We welcome Timor Leste's membership and the collective steps of ASEAN countries in opening doors for them," said Fazey.
Education and empowerment programs
According to Fazey, the UK's support flows through two channels: the official ASEAN mechanism and bilateral partnerships for institutional development. One of the focuses is on the education sector. The UK encourages Timor Leste's participation in the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) assessment for fifth-grade students in literacy and numeracy. "Timor Leste is the seventh country to participate, and the results will be released on December 4 in Manila," she said.
There are also online training and entrepreneurship programs for young people initiated in collaboration with relevant ministries and UN Women. These efforts aim to expand access to skills and economic opportunities for Timor Leste's young generation.
Economic strengthening and trade
In the economic field, the UK supports Timor Leste as it prepares to integrate into regional and global trade systems. Technical assistance on rules of origin is provided as a prerequisite for exports and imports within the ASEAN framework, as well as for accession to the WTO. "We are proud to have accompanied Timor Leste on its journey towards WTO and ASEAN accession, including technical support in the very important rules of origin," said Fazey.
Furthermore, the UK collaborates with the Central Bank of Timor Leste to develop the national financial strategy, including digital financial literacy and the expansion of services for MSMEs and women. The modernization of the digital trade system is encouraged to enable Timor Leste to benefit from intra-ASEAN trade flows. Fazey emphasized that all of this support is aimed at accelerating Timor Leste's readiness to meet regional standards as a new member of ASEAN.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2067832/uk-assists-timor-lestes-transition-toward-asean-membershi