Capital
Dili
Geographical location
The Democratic Republic of East Timor is a country in Southeast Asia. It consists of the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecussi-Ambeno, an exclave of East Timor situated on the northwestern side of the island, surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. The small country is located about 400 miles northwest of Darwin, Australia.
Climate
Tropical and generally hot and humid, characterized by distinct rainy and dry seasons.
Natural resources
Although natural resources are limited, East Timor has offshore natural gas and oil deposits in the Timor Sea.
Main resources: Gold, Petroleum, Manganese, Marble, Natural gas.
Economy
East Timor is one of the least economically developed countries in the world and depends heavily on foreign aid. The infrastructure of East Timor is underdeveloped. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the workforce.
The country’s only major road extends eastward from Dili, linking towns along the northern coast. The East Timorese economy stands to benefit in the long term from the development of the oil and gas-rich seabed of the Timor Sea.
Under international guidance, much of East Timor's agriculture sector is transforming subsistence farming into an export-oriented industry, and it is a difficult challenge. Key crops such as coffee and vanilla and potentially candlenut and palm oil will be targeted for increased capital investment.
Under an agreement between East Timor and Australia, East Timor is to receive 90 percent of the revenues generated from these deposits beginning in 2005, with Australia receiving the remaining 10 percent. This development is expected to significantly improve the economy of East Timor.
Industries
The industry sector employs about 5 percent of the labor force. Industries include the manufacture of textiles, the bottling of water, and the processing of coffee. In 2000 industries contributed 27 percent of the GDP.
The main industries are: Printing, Soap manufacturing, Handicrafts, Textile.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the main activity in East Timor, providing subsistence to an estimated 80% of the population. It also generates an average of 90% of the exports, mainly due to coffee. Most farmers practice subsistence farming, planting and harvesting what they need for a simple life-style, collecting wild foods and traditional medicines, and the animals are very much left free to grow and reproduce. There are almost no large scale farms except for missions.
Commercially produced crops include coffee, coconuts, cloves, and cacao. Coffee is the country’s principal export crop. Subsistence crops include rice, maize, cassava, and sweet potatoes. Tropical fruits, including mangoes and pineapples, are also grown. Many rural people continue to practice shifting cultivation (also called swidden or slash-and-burn agriculture) and use simple tools to grow their crops.
During 2000 and 2001, the agriculture sector expanded, due to a rebuilding of seed stocks and irrigation systems, improved access to fertilizer and transportation, a reduced threat of violence, and high demand resulting from the large international presence in the country. About 73 percent of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and contributed 25.4% of GDP. (2001)
The main agriculture products is: Coffee, Rice, Maize, Cassava, Sweet potatoes, Soybeans, Cabbage, Mangoes, Bananas, Vanilla.
Services
The services sector—including trade, finance, and public administration—employs about 22 percent of the labor force. Most service-sector jobs are located in Dili. This sector also registered strong growth in 2000-2001 in order to meet the needs of the international staff and reconstruction efforts. In 2001 services contributed 57.4 percent of the GDP.
Tourism
During the Indonesian occupation, tourism was not a large industry, but there is a great potential growth in this area.
Transportation
The road network is 3,800 km, of which 428 km is paved. There are 8 airports (2004 est.), 3 with paved runways and 5 with unpaved runways. There is one Port in Dili.
FOREIGN TRADE
Export commodities: coffee, sandalwood, marble, oil and vanilla
Export Partners: Indonesia (100%)
Exports: US$10 million excluding oil (2005 est.)
Import commodities: Food, Gasoline, Kerosene, Machinery
Import Partners: Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh (2004)
Imports: US$202 million (2004 est.)
Annual Indicators*
| Area Sq Km |
15,007 |
| Population |
1,040,880** |
| GDP (US$ million) (2004) |
370 |
| GDP per capita (US$) (2004) |
1 |
| Real GDP growth(%) (2004) |
400 |
| Exports of goods fob (US$ million) |
10 |
| Imports of goods cif (US$ million) |
202 |
| Consumer Price Inflation (%) (2003) |
4 |
*Estimated
** The World Factbook - note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2005 est.)
Mainland China-East Timor Bilateral Trade (US$ 10,000)
| |
Total |
Exports* |
Imports** |
| 2004 |
171 |
171 |
0 |
| 2003 |
107 |
107 |
0 |
* China’s export value to East Timor
** China’s import value to East Timor
Source:
- Australian Government (Department of Foreign Affairs) – East Timor – Country brief (March 2005)
- BBC news – country profile East Timor
- China Statistical Yearbook 2005
- Macau Economic Services
- Macau Statistics and Census Department
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
- Trade Invest - Timor Leste
- The World Bank
- The World Factbook
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