About

The cooperative sector has an important part to play in economic and social development. Alongside the public sector and the private sector, cooperatives can be an engine of economic growth built on the participation and the empowerment of communities.

Worldwide, more than [ ] billion people are members of a cooperative, which shows the capacity of the cooperative model to mobilise communities, create economic opportunity and advance inclusive development.

In ASEAN, cooperatives also make an important contribution to the region's economy, with tens of millions of members between them and activity in many fields, including finance, agriculture, production, trade and services.

For Timor-Leste, developing the cooperative sector can be an important part of the effort to diversify the economy, strengthen the local economy, raise production and empower communities.

With Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN, the opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation and to learn from the experience of the member states grow larger.

The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Secretaria de Estado das Cooperativas (SECoop), continues to promote and develop the cooperative sector through capacity building, governance, technical support and an environment in which cooperatives can grow.

Cooperatives in Timor-Leste work in many fields, including credit unions, production cooperatives and multi-sector cooperatives, and continue to find opportunities to develop their capacity and their connection to the market.

DRCCMD 2026 and ACE 2026 will be a platform for Timor-Leste and its partners in ASEAN to share experience, learn from good practice, build partnerships and seek opportunities for collaboration that carry the cooperative sector forward across the region.

DRCCMD 2026 and the ASEAN Cooperative Expo (ACE) 2026 will bring together interested parties from Timor-Leste, from ASEAN and from international partners, in Díli.

DRCCMD 2026 places its emphasis on policy dialogue and on strategic discussion of how the cooperative sector can contribute further to inclusive, resilient and sustainable economic development.

ACE 2026 will be a space for cooperatives and businesses to present products and services, share innovation, promote business, build networks and seek opportunities in the market and in partnership.

Together, the two events build a bridge between policy and practice, between communities and the market, and between Timor-Leste and the ASEAN region.