East Timor Trading

Why the Future is Ours to Mold

An interview with MR. SAKIB AWAN, founder and Chairman of East Timor Trading Group

East Timor Trading Founder and Chairman Sakib Awan reflects on the challenges of building a successful business in a new country. Containers are stacked high at East Timor Trading's company headquarters: a young man operates a forklift truck with consummate skill, swiftly unloading pallets of goods to the vast warehouse. Since its inception, the company's success has depended on maintaining a constant supply chain of products for the Timor-Leste market. But the distribution of goods is only part of the story. The company is also setting benchmarks in the service industry, employing around 300 full-time staff and con tractors. East Timor Trading operates a thriving wholesale food and beverage distribution network covering the whole country. Company Founders Sakib and Neelo Awan were the first entrepreneurs to acquire international franchises to operate in Timor-Leste: Gloria Jean's Coffees opened in 2012, followed by Burger King a year later.

There are now three Gloria Jean's outlets in Dili and four Burger King restaurants. In May 2012, Awan was awarded an Order of Timor-Leste by then President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta for ongoing commitment to and services in Timor-Leste. Within two years of the first Burger King opening at Timor Plaza, the company won the 2015 regional Burger King Asia-Pacific Operator of the Year award. East Timor Trading has also established a chain of Cheers Bottle Shops, Makanan and Il Gelato outlets at the Timor Plaza food court and owns the Discovery Inn and Diya Restaurant, which holds the top rating for Timor-Leste on TripAdvisor. With the company's rapid expansion following the acquisition of the Burger King and Gloria Jean's international franchises, the East Timor Trading group gained a high public profile in Timor-Leste: but it was not an overnight success story. The company's evolution began in the Northern Territory of Australia, in the early nineties. Sakib and Neelo had set up a trading business there in 1991, winning the first of three awards for entrepreneurship, "New Exporter of the Year", in 1993.

Sakib Awan

It began as a small family business, built up through years of relentless hard work, but Sakib and Neelo Awan soon realised that they needed a business plan to cope with the company's growth and move forward. They received a grant from the Northern Territory Government to fund 50% of the cost of bringing in an expert to help him chart the company's future development, and Peter Anderson, a well-respected Australian business consultant, took on the task. Following this plan, the company was meeting its goals and doing well - until the Asian financial crisis hit in 1997.

"We were a 100% export trading company, and relying heavily on air freight, but Qantas ended up increasing freight costs from $1.50 to $4.70 per kilo for our freight, slashing our profit margin. We went tumbling down," Awan says

"So we've seen from up close and personal the possibility of closing our business down, because suddenly outside forces had something to do with us, rather than it being in our control. Up to that point, there was sheer growth, everything was OK, and then we hit a roadblock which we never expected. It was a big learning curve for us, we learnt a lot about ourselves, about our tenacity, about our willingness to honour our commitments and more". Awan says that he was moved by the support he received as he struggled to save his company: "I've never found more friends in my life than I did at that time", he remembers, "Most of them were members of the Rotary Club of Darwin. Everything that I did I had some Rotarian involved in it, willing to help me". The stark reality was that the company was facing bankruptcy, an option that Awan was reluctant to choose: "So I asked a friend of mine, a senior judge in the Northern Territory, 'What would you do? and he said, 'I would pay my debts'. So that's what I did, even though it meant that I would have to lose my home, and everything else that I had accumulated. But that's the path that I took." The same friend - Awan demurs from naming him became a partner in the company when it started up again, bringing in new capital and providing business premises as part of the arrangement.

"It took weeks for the matter to be resolved. There were the times when I would sit down on the veranda and pray to God that I should die, because then my wife Nee/a would end up having a much bigger payout from insurance than I was able to provide. And luckily, God had a different path sketched out for me, and that path led to Timor-Leste"

East Timor Trading's development as a company has closely followed Timor-Leste’s historical and economic development , as the new country took its independence and set about building a future for itself. Awan remembers when he first became aware of the business potential in the country in 1997, when Timor was under Indonesian rule: "I went to Timor as Chairman for International Business Councils, affiliated to the Australian Chamber of Commerce, to sign a memorandum of understanding. When I came back, I said to Neelo, if this country ever gets independence we should seriously look at it".

When the country eventually voted for independence in 1999, few people imagined the bloodshed and sheer scale of the destruction that would follow the announcement of the result. Most of the country's infrastructure and institutions were destroyed and an 11,500-strong multinational military force, INTERFET, was brought in to restore the peace.

At the time, a business associate of Awan's had won the contract to supply the Australian INTERFET contingent of around 5,500 troops with basic necessities. "I approached the company to see if I could help," he remembers, "They asked me to put together a quote for basic necessities like milk, water, and eggs. So within 6 hours we did everything we could to get the prices to them and within half an hour they said, 'you're on'. I didn't sleep for a week or so because the order was so massive. We supplied thou sands of pallets of drinking water whilst that contract lasted, it was six months".

As the situation in the country stabilised, the United Nations established a transitional administration, UNTAET, bringing in thousands of international police officers and civilian advisors. "People were asking us whether we could supply Coca Cola, toiletries like shaving cream or toothpaste, and so on, so we went to suppliers with a long view, to build on the initial opportunity, given our experience on the ground”.

At this point, Awan was still based in Australia, shuttling between Dili and Darwin, working through a sub-distributor to maintain the supply of products, but the business was not running smoothly. "So we consulted Peter Anderson again and he did a diagnostic of the situation, looking at every angle, and he came back with the findings: that if we are interested in this intellectual property that we had acquired, we must be there, and must have our own infrastructure and our own team".

Awan also discussed the situation with his long-time mentor, Mujahid Hamid, who had been advising him since 1984. Hamid, who was Unilever China Chairman at the time, confirmed Anderson 's advice about committing to a permanent presence in Timor-Leste: "Unilever is in the business of fast-moving consumer goods, and they distribute to every corner of the globe, so who could be a better person to seek advice from than him? And he said that the amount of intellectual property you've got, you need to re-base yourself there rather than doing it by remote control. Up to that point, we had a very comfortable life in Australia, we were living a beautiful home in Darwin, and had no worries in the world. But we had jumped into Timor-Leste and I was committed to making the company blossom and flourish there". Awan recruited a Sales Manager in Australia, Peter Berney, and together they travelled to Dili on 1st July 2002.

Timor-Leste had just celebrated its independence and by this time the UN was drastically reducing its presence. On the day Awan and Berney arrived, Awan remembers attending a social function in Dili: "We had gone to open a bank account at the ANZ. Chris Durman was the manager at the time, and it was the last day of his contract, so he invited us to his leaving party at the Burnt House Restaurant".

There would have been about 200 people, a lot of internationals, and overwhelmingly everybody said that you'd best call it off, the UN is leaving! You're way too late to come in. What they didn't know was that I'd done my homework before coming in and I saw the potential".

When Awan shared his business plan with Berney, he received it with a degree of scepticism. "I told him what our vision was, what we needed to achieve in 5 years, and he thought it was way over the top. It was very aggressive and very hard to achieve, but Peter delivered most of the big-ticket items himself in the three years he worked for me. He did a great job" saw the potential".

Awan and Berney had to hit the ground running on their first day in Dili. They made arrangements to take over from the existing sub-distributor, dealt with the business registration paperwork and took possession of the property in Farol that had been leased as the company headquarters and which was also to be the family home. "Once that process was done, we hired a car and Peter went about selling the goods that we had shipped to Timor in advance for ourselves. That's how we started".

"Day One" was also the day that Awan took on his first Timorese employee: "When we arrived, from the airport we went straight to our sub distributor's office to tell them that we are here to take control, and that we were going to do it ourselves. They were aware of our intentions. We said that if any of the existing employees wished to work with us, we'd be happy to take over their employment. I asked a few of them, and Marcelino Sarmento was the only one who came with us, he agreed on the spot. He's still with the company and he has done some wonderful stuff."

By 2004, Awan had deepened his commitment to Timor-Leste:

"When my elder daughters Zeenat and Saba commenced university in Australia, I decided I needed to relocate the family home from Darwin to Dili. Neelo and my younger daughter lsmat came to live here. lsmat continued her education in Dili".

United Nations Commissaries

In 2005, East Timor Trading had won the contract to run the UN Commissaries, catering to the remaining 2,500 UN personnel and Awan was still looking to expand his business when violence flared up again in the 2006 political crisis.

"Just as the crisis hit, lamps were burning very low, there was no activity, a very small UN force was left. We were very heavily dependent on that, because the spending dollar was not there for the Timorese, but we knew that one day it would change, and we also knew that a lot of these companies that we were representing also make products for developing countries like Indonesia and Pacific Islands and we were homing in to those products, and bringing them in, which kept us alive". At the peak of the crisis in 2006, the country was isolated and the port was not able to operate normally, bringing imports to a halt. Ls mat was evacuated to Australia, whilst Awan and his wife Neelo slept on the floor within the UN compound, along with members of the ETT management team, as fighting raged across the city. "The UN people had actually moved in and we could only supply thousands of slices of bread, butter and jam every day. People were surviving on that".

Violence continued sporadically from 2006 into 2007. Gangs of youths threw rocks at passing vehicles and occasional gunshots still echoed around town. The supply situation was eventually resolved: REINATO DE ARAUJO and ANGELITO DACOSTA both found employment with East Timer Trading during this period. De Araujo remembers his first job interview with Neelo Awan: "It was a new thing for me, to be interviewed by a woman. That doesn't often happen in our culture. But I saw that both Mr and Mrs Awan worked together as a team. Beautiful!" De Araujo and Da Costa had to unload containers at the port, reload the goods by hand onto trucks and drive through the streets of Dili with their valuable cargo.

"I had to focus on the job," says De Araujo, "I was part of the resistance in Indonesian times and I knew how to avoid trouble spots". "I was afraid," Da Costa confesses, "People were throwing stones, shooting, but we went straight there, loaded up, came back, and fortunately nothing happened to us."

The workload grew as the volume of goods coming into the country increased, and both De Araujo and Da Costa were stretched to their limits. Their reward came three years later, when both were promoted to senior positions in logistics, sales and marketing whilst the company's work force expanded. Da Costa says, "Then, as now, it's a question of keeping the goods moving, moving, moving. From the port to the stockist to the customer. That's still my mission."

Once the crisis was resolved, by 2012 the UN presence had dwindled to a core of civilian advisers, and many Timorese staff were worried about the prospect of redundancy once the contingent had departed the country.

"A lot of people saw Timor-Leste as a shotgun opportunity," Awan explained, "When the UN left, a lot of businesses left with them. It was a watershed moment, but what has created the long term success of my company is the fact that I understood, early in the piece, to invest in the people who were working for me. But I also knew that it would not all be plain sailing and I have to say that I couldn't have done it without the constant support of my wife, Neelo, who was my rock".

With the closure of the UN Commissary in 2012, Awan took on the challenge of transforming his UN-based operations into businesses, taking his staff with him. "The opportunity came for us to do some thing in Timor Plaza, so we deployed them in the different outlets there, so as not to lose the people that we had painstakingly trained, but rather create new opportunities for them".

Odette Tilman is one of the Timorese people who made the transition from the UN "bubble" economy to find employment with East Timor Trading. She had found a job as cook/housekeeper for a Pakistan UN Police Officer during the UNTAET mission, where she picked up the basics of South Asian cooking.
At the end of his posting to Timor-Leste, her employer introduced her to Awan, who hired her to work in the UN commissary at an increased salary. "I only knew how to make chapatis and naan," she remembers, "but then I learned how to make so many other dishes." Her eyes brim with tears as she remembers, "Mr and Mrs Awan have been like father and mother to me. When I came to them, I was desperate to keep working. My house was derelict and he lent me the money to repair it". Tilman has had training from qualified chefs and now cooks for 300 people at the ETT staff canteen every day, whilst using her Asian cuisine and bread-making skills at Makanan in Timor Plaza. With a '12- year old disabled son to care for, she depends on the security of a steady job and a regular salary for his therapy and her family's future.

Awan has a keen eye for talent in hiring staff. The pattern that emerges is one of employees starting in entry-level jobs, then achieving promotion: constant training and human resources development are key company policies. Antonio Fernandes started out working as a driver for Discovery Inn in 2007. "But then, one day, Mr Awan suggested that I go to work at Burger King, when it opened. I was unsure whether I could do that job, but he gave me a little push, he said I could learn," he explains. He was trained and tested in food preparation, according to the rigorous standards required by the international franchise. He then became Team Leader, followed by a promotion to Junior Shift Manager. "That's what I like about working for East Timer Trading," he says, "there's always something new to learn and the opportunity for promotion".

One of Sakib's outstanding qualities is the way he deals with staff and stakeholders alike: all are important", Anderson explains, "The most junior or unskilled employee has always received the same respect and consideration as anyone else, whether senior ETT management customers, government officials at all levels, or others. As such, he has generated significant long-term loyalty - a great and necessary strength for any enduring corporation".

Senior Auditor Eligio Pereira

A company the size of East Timor Trading relies on efficient financial management. Senior Auditor Eligio Pereira and Senior Audit Assistant Juliana Gaspar have a close working relationship. Gaspar had been working at the UN agency FAO; Awan hired her when her contract came to an end. "I'm so grateful to Mr and Mrs Awan for giving me a job," she says, "I've learned so much. I really enjoy doing data analysis". Pereira started work as a cashier in 2007. He had never been used to handling large transactions and felt nervous about taking on such a big responsibility:

"Mr Awan put his trust in me and I didn't want to let him down. My father always used to say that to succeed in life you need to use your brains, be honest and be brave, so that's what I did. Eventually I got used to the job".

PEREIRA says that the company has changed a lot since the UN days: "It's a lot busier. Before we were just marketing in Dili, now we are going to the districts, and the business is growing". When he was promoted to the audit department, working alongside the accountants, he decided that his ambition was to study accountancy himself: "That will have to wait, though. I am paying for my brothers and sisters to go to school, so they have to finish their educations first".

The logistical challenges of maintaining a steady supply chain, importing and distributing quantities of goods on this scale require precise coordination and good teamwork. Shipment Manager Elves Pereira, Assistant Warehouse Manager Zoel Fernandes and Sales and Marketing Manager Salvador Cardoso have to work very closely together to keep everything running smoothly. The task of customs clearance and shipment documentation falls to Pereira, who handles the stress of the job very well:

"When I first started working here in 2005, the volume of goods coming in was quite low, but now we're much busier," he says, "I spend so much time getting containers out of the port. You can't get angry at delays, you have to have patience. You have to develop good working relation ships with customs officials and the people who work on the docks, and that's the best part of my job".

When Pereira's job is done, Fernandes takes over at the warehouse, helping to make sure that goods are ready to be distributed to customers by the 80-strong sales and marketing force. He has only been working for the company since 2015, but already feels like he is part of the corporate family: "We are united. That is the good thing in East Timer Trading, it's a great company. All the people who work here, they're smart, outstanding. So I want to learn from them". Fernandes feels inspired to emulate Awan in the future, "He has led the way and one day East Timer Trading will be our example, they can teach us so we Timorese can set up our own companies. It's not easy, but my ambition is strong".

When Cardoso was first hired by Awan as a handyman in 2002, he hadn't expected to become a Sales Marketing Manager. "Mr Sakib asked me what I wanted to study and he arranged for me to take computer and English courses. Then he promoted me and I had to learn to manage staff, just like he does. We have to make money for the company so that we can make money for ourselves. I have six children to support and when I started working at East Timor Trading, I felt a real change in myself and my family. I have learned so much myself and now I am sure that my children will get a good education. My whole family is happy."

Sales Manager Reinato De Araujo

In our culture, we are all expected to make a big contribution to the cost of family celebrations and community events. When I couldn't afford to do that, nobody wanted to know me. But all that changed once I got the job... everybody wanted to greet me, they called me 'Mr Reinato', I was respected. It was a big change in my life".

"If we show respect to our staff," Awan explains, "in turn, they are given respect by their communities, and at church. They see the person contributing to the community, building up and supporting their extended families, and our staff share the messages that we, as a company, impart to them: not just the work ethic, but knowledge about hygiene, sanitation, health, eating the right kind of food, morals, not to do the wrong thing, to do the right thing”.

After he started work at East Timor Trading, Sales Manager Reinato De Araujo's status in his family and community was enhanced.

Medic Freitas brought the corporate culture home. From Lospalos in the far eastern part of the country, he decided to travel to Dili to find work to help support his family after his father passed away. At first, he was given some shifts as a cleaner at Burger King:

“I was so happy when they gave me a full-time job as a Team Member... I remember my manager explaining to me about hand sanitiser; I didn't even know what it was, but she explained to me about food hygiene and the need to kill the bacteria on your hands. Now, at home, I've taught my whole family about washing your hands when cooking and before we sit down to eat".

Freitas has now been promoted to Junior Shift Manager and he grins as he confides his ambition to be General Manager of Burger King Timor-Leste one day.

According to Peter Anderson, Awan has driven the company's growth by pursuing one opportunity after another with pure hard work and great support from his wife Neelo.

Slowly the business which has become the East Timor Trading went from strength to strength, such that today it is a very significant employer in the Timor-Leste private sector, generating income and wealth for local and international staff alike, whilst providing a growing range of services in local markets and introducing new levels of sophistication in the various market sectors. It can, without hesitation, claim to be a prominent role model for private sector contribution in Timor-Leste".

East Timor Trading had its roots in the country's transition to independence. Since then, to a great extent, Timor-Leste's economy has been driven by government spending for development, funded by revenues from the oil and gas sector. But there is a general awareness that the country's future will depend on the diversification of the economy: there is great potential for tourism and the hospitality and service industry is starting to show signs of promise. The Burger King and Gloria Jean's franchises have made a significant contribution to the development of these skills in the workforce.

Angelina Da Costa’s career path has taken her from her first job with the company, as a cleaner at the UN commissary, to Supervisor at the first Gloria Jean's Coffees outlet to open in Timor-Leste, at Timor Plaza. "Gloria Jean's was a new thing for us," Da Costa says, "My family has a coffee plantation in Ainaro, but we didn't know about different ways of serving it, like cappuccino and caramelatte. The company brought in an expert from Australia to teach us how to make them and train us as baristas. Now I'm passing that knowledge on to the staff, and teaching them how to greet every customer who comes into the cafe, to promote our specials and to listen to their feedback".

Lucio Sarmento

Lucio Sarmento, started working for Awan in 2002, as a night security guard, helping out with odd jobs like washing the car and watering the garden. Despite having limited literacy skills, he was given the opportunity to become a barista at Gloria Jean's and is now a team leader at the franchise's Colmera branch. Like Da Costa, Sarmento is also from coffee country - he comes from Maubisse: "Gloria Jean's coffee was a new thing for me. I like making the international-style coffees with milk, the chilled drinks, but I also am very happy that many of our customers choose to drink Timorese coffee". Sarmento says that working for East Timor Trading has not only helped him with his education, but has given the same opportunities to many other Timorese people who've been employed by the company. "East Timor Trading is not like other companies. It's like a family, and family helps family. They 've helped me with a loan to renovate my home, and to take care of my two small children. They also support the Catholic Mothers' charity work with the poor". Awan has created a corporate culture based on developing his staff's careers, yet when asked about their personal ambitions, most employees talk about their professional lives in a collective context. It begins at home, with the ability to invest in their children's educations, to support the immediate and extended family and contribute to the community. Once that is achieved, they look to strengthening the company itself, and powering the economic development of their country. Onetime truck driver – now Sales Manager – Reinato De Araujo puts it this way: "I don't dream of becoming a top manager at East Timor Trading for myself," he says, "In the future, I want to help the company to grow. I look at my family, my friends, as they finish their education and look for employment but they can't get a job. So many Timorese have to go overseas to find work. I hope that if I work hard, the company will be able to open up more job opportunities for Timorese people who deserve a chance. That's what I need."

Marcea Exposto and Marcelina Pinto are pulling together to help build tourism in Timor-Leste, putting their customer service skills to work at Discovery Inn and Diya Restaurant. Both have been with the business for ten years, working their way up to become Duty Manager and Restaurant Supervisor, respectively. Pinto is strongly aware of the need to strive for excellence in customer service.

"We need to keep learning. Ours is a small country but our guests expect the same standard of service that they would receive anywhere in the world. I'm glad the company has given us the opportunity to develop our skiffs, because we have to take good care of our guests in these days of social media, and keep our ranking as number one on TripAdvisor!"

Whilst working for the company, Exposto gained a degree in Hotel Management. Her family is from one of the main coffee-producing regions of Timor-Leste and she is keen on promoting tourist excursions to coffee plantations, the subject of her degree thesis. "We're starting to see more tourists coming to Timor-Leste. They used to stay in Dili, but now many are starting to explore other parts of the country, Atauro Island, and the mountains. And they love it. It makes me so happy and excited when they come back and tell me how much they've enjoyed their experiences," she says. Now, she is looking to advance in her career:

"I think maybe next I could study to become a chef," she confides "or perhaps, one day, Minister of Tourism! Why not!"

First employee

The very first East Timor Trading employee, Marcelino Sarmento, who was hired by Awan in 2002 has witnessed at first-hand the evolution of East Timor Trading as a company. When he started out in a time of crisis, the company was handling just a few container-loads of goods from the yard in Farol, and he helped to take orders by telephone. Awan remembers that he was immediately impressed with Sarmento's work ethic and faith in the company vision. "He was always there behind the scenes and he could always come to me and speak with me. He was willing to invest himself in the future of the company, with sheer hard work and loyalty, absorbing all of the skills we were imparting to him. He always had the finger on the pulse of what was happening around him and was an ally who I would turn to whenever I needed some guidance from a local perspective". Now Sarmento is a Sales Marketing Manager for East Timor Trading and has been instrumental in extending the company's wholesale distribution network to cover the whole country. He has been trying to encourage small businesses, shops and guest houses in the districts to stock a wider range of products.

"I tell them that it's time for them to grow, to cater to the needs of the tourists who are starting to visit the districts. It's a new market. It's going slowly, but now's the time to think of the next generation and the future to come.”

The future

Awan's thoughts have also turned to future generations. He has stepped down as the company's Chief Executive Officer and passed the baton to his son-in-law, Samitha (Sam) Aluwihare, a talented young businessman who is married to Awan's daughter, Zeenat. She also plays a senior role in the family enterprise.

Now, Awan's lifelong mentor Mujahid Hamid is advising Aluwihare as he takes over the day-to-day operation of the company, supported by a committee of young, dynamic executives. "They are making some brilliant decisions going forward. And I think the ship is in the right hands, because a lot of it is collective decision-making, taking ownership of their actions, which is what I've encouraged," Awan explains, "That gives me free time to do what I want to do and look after my health a little bit. And I have no doubt, in my mind, that some of our Timorese employees who have shown aspirations to be successful business professionals in their own right, will succeed. It's something that I have always said to them, that whatever you aspire to, is achievable. It's only within your own self that you limit yourself, so be fearless and limitless in terms of what you want to achieve in life. I have always admired the resourcefulness and tenacity of the Timorese in their struggle for independence. It's been a privilege to have their support over the years, rallying behind me and pushing themselves to develop their professional lives. And I also developed because of them. So it was a two-way street. And still is".

Growing together

As a young country, Timor-Leste offers both unique opportunities and unique challenges for a business. There have been some growing pains, however, the desire of the Timorese people to build a safe and proud country after so many years of violence is evident in the new generations’ desire to be educated, to seek work, and to rebuild. Since independence, the various Governments have identified desired outcomes for their country and persevered to achieve them, none more so than with the recent Timor Gap resolution which will provide Timor-Leste financial security for decades to come.

East Timor Trading, as the name suggests, has been around since before ‘East Timor’ was officially declared The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. Since 2000, the Awans have grown the company substantially and it has evolved to work within the country’s business landscape. Navigating these early years has not always been smooth sailing, but as Awan comments: ‘it has been made so much easier due to the support East Timor Trading has received from all sectors of the country’s administration and from all political spheres.’

The foreign media are quick to criticise Timor-Leste, perhaps this is because from a distance it may not be easy to see just how far Timor-Leste has come in its 15 years since independence. It is vital that the world looks at Timor-Leste as the success story that it undoubtedly is and in the context of other countries that have become independent nations. Many fall in their early years of independence. But despite its brief period of violent civil unrest in 2005-2007, it is amazing what Timor-Leste has achieved with relative peace. This success must be recognised by the international community because that, along with the goodwill it engenders, will assist the country as it continues its stable, democratic growth in the region.

Working together to create a sustainable business is central to the success of East Timor Trading. In fact, the company motto, Developing the future together, comes from the Awans hearts and places this idea front and centre to all the company’s operations. While much of the perceived heavy lifting of running the business may have been seen as Sakib’s territory, Neelo remains a vital foundation and contributes to the daily workings and keeping business morale high.

“We came to this young country, which was completely unknown to us. We fell in love with the beautiful countryside and learned a lot along the way from its wonderful, resilient people. It has been a truly a humbling and gratifying experience”, says Neelo reflecting on their time in Timor-Leste.

East Timor Trading is committed to remaining in Timor-Leste and developing community and infrastructure. ‘We take great pride in the professional and educational opportunities we offer to our staff’, say Sakib and Neelo, who are acutely aware that over the long term, these opportunities lead to better lives for not only immediate employees but for their families and future generations of Timorese people.

Awan's thoughts have also turned to future generations. He has stepped down as the company's Chief Executive Officer and passed the baton to his son-in-law, Samitha (Sam) Aluwihare, a talented young businessman who is married to Awan's daughter, Zeenat. She also plays a senior role in the family enterprise.

Now, Awan's lifelong mentor Mujahid Hamid is advising Aluwihare as he takes over the day-to-day operation of the company, supported by a committee of young, dynamic executives. "They are making some brilliant decisions going forward. And I think the ship is in the right hands, because a lot of it is collective decision-making, taking ownership of their actions, which is what I've encouraged," Awan explains, "That gives me free time to do what I want to do and look after my health a little bit. And I have no doubt, in my mind, that some of our Timorese employees who have shown aspirations to be successful business professionals in their own right, will succeed. It's something that I have always said to them, that whatever you aspire to, is achievable. It's only within your own self that you limit yourself, so be fearless and limitless in terms of what you want to achieve in life. I have always admired the resourcefulness and tenacity of the Timorese in their struggle for independence. It's been a privilege to have their support over the years, rallying behind me and pushing themselves to develop their professional lives. And I also developed because of them. So it was a two-way street. And still is".

Growing together

As a young country, Timor-Leste offers both unique opportunities and unique challenges for a business. There have been some growing pains, however, the desire of the Timorese people to build a safe and proud country after so many years of violence is evident in the new generations’ desire to be educated, to seek work, and to rebuild. Since independence, the various Governments have identified desired outcomes for their country and persevered to achieve them, none more so than with the recent Timor Gap resolution which will provide Timor-Leste financial security for decades to come.

East Timor Trading, as the name suggests, has been around since before ‘East Timor’ was officially declared The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. Since 2000, the Awans have grown the company substantially and it has evolved to work within the country’s business landscape. Navigating these early years has not always been smooth sailing, but as Awan comments: ‘it has been made so much easier due to the support East Timor Trading has received from all sectors of the country’s administration and from all political spheres.’

The foreign media are quick to criticise Timor-Leste, perhaps this is because from a distance it may not be easy to see just how far Timor-Leste has come in its 15 years since independence. It is vital that the world looks at Timor-Leste as the success story that it undoubtedly is and in the context of other countries that have become independent nations. Many fall in their early years of independence. But despite its brief period of violent civil unrest in 2005-2007, it is amazing what Timor-Leste has achieved with relative peace. This success must be recognised by the international community because that, along with the goodwill it engenders, will assist the country as it continues its stable, democratic growth in the region.

Working together to create a sustainable business is central to the success of East Timor Trading. In fact, the company motto, Developing the future together, comes from the Awans hearts and places this idea front and centre to all the company’s operations. While much of the perceived heavy lifting of running the business may have been seen as Sakib’s territory, Neelo remains a vital foundation and contributes to the daily workings and keeping business morale high.

“We came to this young country, which was completely unknown to us. We fell in love with the beautiful countryside and learned a lot along the way from its wonderful, resilient people. It has been a truly a humbling and gratifying experience”, says Neelo reflecting on their time in Timor-Leste.

East Timor Trading is committed to remaining in Timor-Leste and developing community and infrastructure. ‘We take great pride in the professional and educational opportunities we offer to our staff’, say Sakib and Neelo, who are acutely aware that over the long term, these opportunities lead to better lives for not only immediate employees but for their families and future generations of Timorese people.

Why the Future is Ours to Mold

Sakib Awan

United Nations Commissaries

In 2005, East Timor Trading had won the contract to run the UN Commissaries, catering to the remaining 2,500 UN personnel and Awan was still looking to expand his business when violence flared up again in the 2006 political crisis.

Senior Auditor Eligio Pereira

Sales Manager Reinato De Araujo

Lucio Sarmento

First employee

The future

Growing together

Growing together

Sakib Awan: A Short Appraisal