Sakib Awan 10/6/20 Sakib Awan 10/6/20

Land tenure in Timor-Leste

Sakib Awan 9/11/20 Sakib Awan 9/11/20

Banks in Timor-Leste

Until land title law and regulation on interest rates is passed, interest rates will remain high – a problem that could be solved now if the government wished.

Sakib Awan 8/30/20 Sakib Awan 8/30/20

Supporting Timorese youth training

Sakib Awan 6/28/20 Sakib Awan 6/28/20

Genius of the simple

This simple invention by a Salvation Army doctor in the 1970s has saved countless lives but has come into its own during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sakib Awan 6/19/20 Sakib Awan 6/19/20

COVID-19: A Global Snapshot Released

I would like to share with you a timely report from Western Sydney University providing a global snapshot of COVID-19 responses, to which I have contributed an analysis of Timor-Leste’s response to the virus from a business perspective.

Sakib Awan 6/19/20 Sakib Awan 6/19/20

On the Ground in Timor-Leste

‘I was really worried and very scared’ … Four Timorese locals share their thoughts, comments, and feelings about facing COVID-19.

Sakib Awan 6/16/20 Sakib Awan 6/16/20

The Dorothy Dixer

India will never replace China as a primary trading partner because the two countries are on vastly different trajectories.

Sakib Awan 6/10/20 Sakib Awan 6/10/20

A Trans-Timor Travel Bubble

As Australia opens up, there is increasing talk of a trans-Tasman travel bubble, and Scott Morrison foreshadowed other Pacific bubbles for ‘members of our broader Pacific family’. But what of our cousins in Timor-Leste to the north, where there have been no COVID-19 deaths? Now it’s time to consider a trans-Timor COVID safe travel zone.

Sakib Awan 5/21/20 Sakib Awan 5/21/20

Cool heads must prevail

In the business world that I come from, I have always held the position that you treat your buyer with kid gloves because if you mistreat them, they will go elsewhere. What are we doing to China?

Sakib Awan 5/14/20 Sakib Awan 5/14/20

Response to an article by Timor-Leste Minister for Finance, Fidelis Magalhães

Crises have a way of clarifying one's thoughts and actions. The strategic groundwork for dealing with COVID-19 appears to be complete. Now, I pray that over the coming days we will see the government set aside bureaucratic hurdles and roll-out a transparent and accountable economic assistance package that is simple and fair for community and business alike.

Sakib Awan 5/13/20 Sakib Awan 5/13/20

Jose Ramos-Horta Interview Response

As Jose Ramos-Horta said in his interview, at this time we need brave leaders that show ‘audacious, courageous, visionary leadership’. I believe Timor-Leste has the right people in place, and evidence from the past month suggests that the Government is on the right path to deliver such leadership at this challenging time.

Sakib Awan 5/11/20 Sakib Awan 5/11/20

A rent furlough for Timor-Leste?

Even with wage assistance programs from governments rolling out in many countries, businesses are still finding themselves burdened with a second financial hurdle: rent on premises that are not producing income.

Sakib Awan 4/26/20 Sakib Awan 4/26/20

An exemplar of national security management?

Alan Dupont of the Cognoscenti Group, wrote this month on LinkedIn about COVID-19 being a golden opportunity for Australia to strengthen its national security.

Sakib Awan 4/17/20 Sakib Awan 4/17/20

Cooperation & Economic Recovery in Timor-Leste

I think it is now safe to say we can call what we are now seeing, a recession. Most people would agree, we don’t need to wait for the official report of two successive quarters of contraction to call this one. What is unknown is how long this will last and how deep it will be.

Sakib Awan 4/17/20 Sakib Awan 4/17/20

An open letter to all decision makers of Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste leadership and businesses have an opportunity now to protect and strengthen the economy. However, this would require a bi-partisan approach by decision makers. I urge all leaders to put politics aside. Let’s work together during these critical days.

Sakib Awan 3/27/20 Sakib Awan 3/27/20

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Sakib Awan 3/22/20 Sakib Awan 3/22/20

Locusts ... as well?

Sakib Awan 3/16/20 Sakib Awan 3/16/20

Coronavirus and the Timor-Leste Economy

The Timor-Leste Government has faced its share of challenges in recent times, and they are dealing with them in a mature fashion, experiencing democracy in action. However, this world-wide slowdown will have a deep flow-on effect on their economy, like others. The government has an opportunity at its feet now to act decisively against the coronavirus.