President Murmu receives the Highest Civilian Award of Timor Leste

President Droupadi Murmu was honoured with the highest civilian award of Timor Leste - Grand Collar of Order of Timor Leste, by Timor Leste President Jose Ramos Horta.

The award was conferred to President Murmu on 10 August 2024 at a function in the Timor-Leste capital, Dili.

President Murmu is on a three-nation tour of - Fiji, New Zealand and Timor Leste from 5 to 10 August 2024. First, she visited Fiji (5-7 August)  then to New Zealand (8 & 9 August) and reached Timor Leste on 10 August.

During her three-nation tour, President Murmu was accompanied by the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Minister of State for the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurien and two Lok Sabha MPs, Saumitra Khan and Jugal Kishore.

India and Timor Leste at present have no diplomatic missions in each other countries.

Highlights of President Murmu's Visit to Timor Leste 

President Murmu is the first Indian President to visit Timor Leste. 

She met the Timor Leste President José Ramos Horta and discussed issues of mutual interest.

President asked for India’s assistance in IT digital infrastructure, medical and pharmaceutical sectors and Capacity-building.

Later, President Murmu met the Prime Minister of Timor Leste Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao.

Three MoUs Signed between India and Timor Leste 

Three agreements were signed between the two countries during the meeting of the Timor Leste Prime Minister and the Indian President. These MoUs are as follows;

• Prasar Bharati of India will cooperate with the Public broadcaster of Timor Leste - Radio Televisaun Timor Leste,
• No Visa requirements for official and diplomatic passport holders, 
• Both countries to further cooperation on cultural exchange programs.

About Timor Leste 

Timor Leste, which was earlier known as East Timor, is an island country in Southeast Asia.

It has an observer status in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN).

It was a Portuguese colony till 1975, and after the withdrawal of the Portuguese, it was occupied by Indonesia.

In the 1999 United Nations-supervised referendum, the people of Timor Leste voted to become an Independent country. 

It gained its formal independence in 2002.

President: Jose Ramos Horta,1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner 

Prime Minister : Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão

Capital: Dili 

Currency: US Dollar