Dili, 10 July 2026 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Civil Service Commission and the Australian Government launched the second intake of the English Language Training for ASEAN Accession (ELTAA) Program, further strengthening the English language capabilities of government officials to support Timor-Leste’s participation in ASEAN processes and regional cooperation.

A total of 284 government officials across line ministries and agencies are participating in this second intake. This includes 151 newly selected participants who successfully completed the program’s placement test and will commence the training. The new cohort comprises 49 per cent women and 51 per cent men, reflecting strong participation from both women and men across the public service. These participants are from 27 government ministries and agencies working across the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) pillars.

The second intake also includes 133 participants from the first intake who successfully completed their initial level of training and will now progress to the next stage of the program. These officials represent 15 ministries and government agencies working primarily under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) pillar. Together, the 284 participants come from government institutions working across all three ASEAN Community pillars, demonstrating Timor-Leste’s whole-of-government commitment to strengthening its readiness for ASEAN membership.

ELTAA is funded by the Australian Government and supports Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession and integration efforts by improving the practical, workplace English language skills of Timor Leste government officials engaged in ASEAN-related responsibilities.

The program provides practical, workplace-focused English language training tailored to the needs of government officials. The courses are designed to strengthen participants’ communication skills and enhance their ability to contribute effectively to ASEAN meetings, regional cooperation, and international engagement.

The launch of the second intake marks another important milestone in Timor-Leste’s efforts to build a skilled, confident, and capable public service that is well prepared to support the country’s successful accession to ASEAN and its future engagement as a member state.