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Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in Timor-Leste, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
TradeInvest, Customs Authority and INETL: the guide’s first stops, of the 13 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- Get advice
Investment and export promotion agency
TradeInvest
TradeInvest Timor-Leste, I.P.
Handles investor benefit applications, publishes the negative investment list and gives exporters a step-by-step guide to procedures.
Visit TradeInvest (opens in a new tab)Source: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Customs Authority
Timor-Leste Customs Authority
Processes export declarations electronically in ASYCUDA World, licenses customs brokers, runs the National Single Window and answers trade questions through an enquiry point.
Visit Customs Authority (opens in a new tab)Source: Timor-Leste Customs Authority, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Research markets
National statistics office
INETL
National Institute of Statistics Timor-Leste, I.P.
Publishes monthly trade statistics, the consumer price index and national accounts that a company can use for price and market research.
Visit INETL (opens in a new tab)Source: INETL, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 21, 2026
2. Export development and market information
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Investment and export promotion agency
TradeInvest
TradeInvest Timor-Leste, I.P.
Handles investor benefit applications, publishes the negative investment list and gives exporters a step-by-step guide to procedures.
Visit TradeInvest (opens in a new tab)Source: TradeInvest Timor-Leste, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Research markets
National statistics office
INETL
National Institute of Statistics Timor-Leste, I.P.
Publishes monthly trade statistics, the consumer price index and national accounts that a company can use for price and market research.
Visit INETL (opens in a new tab)Source: INETL, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 21, 2026
- Get advice
Commerce and industry ministry
MCI
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Sets commerce and industry policy, and its trade portal explains tariffs, measures and procedures for importing and exporting.
Visit MCI (opens in a new tab)Source: Timor-Leste Trade Information Portal, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
Business registry and licensing service
SERVE
Business Registration and Verification Service, Public Institute (SERVE, I.P.)
Registers companies and sole traders, issues the registration certificate and company number, and issues and renews the authorization to conduct business activities.
Visit SERVE (opens in a new tab)Source: Timor-Leste Customs Authority, other agencies page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Central bank
BCTL
Banco Central de Timor-Leste
Supervises banks and payment systems, and publishes inflation, balance of payments and other economic statistics for the dollarized economy.
Visit BCTL (opens in a new tab)Source: Banco Central de Timor-Leste, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 5, 2026
- Get advice
Small business support institute
IADE
Instituto de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Trains and advises small businesses, supports start-up proposals and offers a business incubation facility.
Visit IADE (opens in a new tab)Source: IADE, home page with 2025 news (opens in a new tab) · as of July 4, 2025
4. Customs and tax
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Customs Authority
Timor-Leste Customs Authority
Processes export declarations electronically in ASYCUDA World, licenses customs brokers, runs the National Single Window and answers trade questions through an enquiry point.
Visit Customs Authority (opens in a new tab)Source: Timor-Leste Customs Authority, home page, read 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
ATTL
Autoridade Tributária Timor-Leste
Issues tax identification numbers and debt certificates, takes tax returns through the e-Tax platform and publishes domestic tax laws and forms.
Visit ATTL (opens in a new tab)Source: Autoridade Tributária, home page with August 2026 notice (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Standards and sector requirements
4 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
National quality and metrology institute
IQTL
Institute for Quality of Timor-Leste, I.P.
Checks legal metrology of equipment and takes part in national work on technical barriers to trade and sanitary measures.
Visit IQTL (opens in a new tab)Source: IQTL, home page with 2026 news (opens in a new tab) · as of May 27, 2026
- Meet requirements
Food and economic inspection authority
AIFAESA
Autoridade de Inspeção e Fiscalização da Atividade Económica, Sanitária e Alimentar, I.P.
Inspects food, markets and supermarkets and enforces food expiry and safety controls.
Visit AIFAESA (opens in a new tab)Source: AIFAESA, news blog with December 2025 items (opens in a new tab) · as of December 30, 2025
- Meet requirements
Petroleum regulator
ANP
Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo, I.P.
Regulates the petroleum sector and signs production sharing contracts for exploration blocks.
- Meet requirements
Minerals regulator
ANM
Autoridade Nacional dos Minerais Timor-Leste, I.P.
Regulates mining and mineral resources, including the public tender process for mineral licenses.
Visit ANM (opens in a new tab)Source: ANM, home page with October 2026 news (opens in a new tab) · as of October 21, 2026
6. Chambers and industry associations
1 organization. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
CCI-TL
Timor-Leste Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Represents private businesses, offers training and advocacy, and has networks in all 13 municipalities.
Visit CCI-TL (opens in a new tab)Source: Timor-Leste Customs Authority, trade organizations page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare Timor-Leste with other countriesSet Timor-Leste beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Timor-Leste project.
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Promote:Timor-Leste is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.