Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa in a working visit to Australia

H.E. Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa met with the Honorable Barry O’Farell, Premier of New South Wales and H.E. Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales on 15 June 2011 as part of his working visit to Australia.

In both meetings, Minister da Costa briefed the two State dignitaries about the latest developments in Timor-Leste including the status of the accession process to ASEAN, the 2012 elections and tourism activities in Timor-Leste. The Minister also discussed the problems of the Timorese community in Australia, especially in New South Wales.

H.E. Minister Zacarias da Costa and H.E. 

ProfessorMarie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales

During the Minister’s meeting with the  Governor of New South Wales, Minister da Costa discussed issues related to youth, education and food security. When invited to visit Timor-Leste, the Governor agreed to look at August as the possible time for such a visit. 

H.E. Minister Zacarias da Costa and 

Honorable Barry O'Farell, 

Premier of New South Wales

The Premier committed to identify a suitable space that can accommodate the Consulate-General’s office, space for theumbrella organization of the Timorese Community. He also agreed to continue supporting Timor-Leste and agreed to visitTimor-Leste with a delegation of business people to look at business opportunities in Timor-Leste at the invitation of Minister Zacarias da Costa at an opportune moment. 

The Minister also met with the Timorese Community in New South Wales and with  the small Timorese community in Canberra when he visited the Embassy in Canberra. As part of the working visit, Minister da Costa will also visit Melbourne and will have meetings with the leaders of the Community in Victoria and the friendship groups in that state.