Honiara, Solomon Islands — From July 6–11, 2025, representatives from Timor-Leste, including Emilia dos Santos de Jesus, National Coordinator of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the Mining National Authority (ANM), and MURAK RAI TIMOR, E.P. (MRT), participated in the g7+ Peer Learning Mission in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The event brought together key institutions from Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands under the theme “Building Regional Partnerships through Peer Learning and Sharing of Experience on Natural Resource Management.”
Representing EITI Timor-Leste, Emilia played a central role in the seminar’s Session 3: Panel Discussion on Transparency Initiative and Geological Studies, held on July 9. Speaking alongside a representative from Timor-Leste’s Institute of Geoscience (IGTL) and the Solomon Islands government, Emilia delivered a comprehensive presentation on Timor-Leste’s progress in promoting transparency and accountability in natural resource governance through EITI.
Her presentation highlighted Timor Leste’s journey since joining the EITI in 2008, showcasing the country’s achievements stakeholder consistent reconciliation in legal engagement, publication reports. reform, and of Emilia emphasized the country’s “Satisfactory Progress” status under EITI validation as evidence of sustained political will and multi stakeholder collaboration. She also shared how integrated Timor-Leste transparency has into budgeting processes and public policy dialogues, noting recent innovations such as online data platforms and stronger civil society participation.
Following the panel, Emilia took part in the “Next Step” discussion, focusing on designing a collaborative roadmap between Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands for enhanced cooperation in mining governance. This session laid the groundwork for a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signaling both countries’ intent to deepen technical exchange and joint efforts in transparency and resource management.
As a member of the Timor-Leste delegation led by Minister Francisco da Costa Monteiro, Emilia also participated in high-level bilateral meetings with Solomon Islands ministers, including courtesy visits to the Minister of Mines, Energy & Rural Electrification and the Prime Minister. She joined the official site visit to Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) in Guadalcanal on July 10, where the delegation observed first-hand Solomon Islands’ largest gold mining operation and its integration of community development and environmental standards. The peer learning seminar was co-organized by the g7+ Secretariat, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Timor-Leste, and the Ministry of Mines, Energy & Rural Electrification of Solomon Islands. It aligns with the g7+ Fragile-to-Fragile (F2F) Cooperation Framework, launched in Dili earlier this year, which promotes peer exchange among countries facing similar challenges in post-conflict development and governance. Emilia’s participation reinforced EITI Timor-Leste’s commitment to regional leadership and cooperation in extractive sector transparency, and the importance of continued dialogue with fellow g7+ nations to advance shared development goals.