Banten becomes reference for Timor-Leste on road project management
Serang (ANTARA) - The Banten Provincial Government has become a reference for a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste regarding the management of strategic road infrastructure development projects.
The Governor of Banten, Andra Soni, personally received the visiting delegation led by the Deputy Ambassador of Timor-Leste, Domingus Savio, alongside the Project Management Unit (PMU) for the Suai-Natarbora Highway from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Timor-Leste in Serang City on Wednesday.
“Banten Province welcomes and appreciates the trust placed by the Government of Timor-Leste in choosing this region as a location for infrastructure learning,” said Andra in Serang on Wednesday.
Andra explained that 22 members of the PMU from Timor-Leste are participating in a training programme lasting nearly one month, from 2 to 27 July 2026. The training, facilitated by the Banten Provincial Department of Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR), focuses on road and bridge engineering, construction material testing, and project administrative management.
Andra noted that the PMU team is currently planning the construction of a toll road in one of the locations in Timor-Leste, necessitating a deeper understanding of comprehensive project management, including the toll road construction process.
“We hope this visit serves as a means to exchange experiences, not only in technical aspects but also in building a culture of quality so that the resulting infrastructure is resilient, safe, and sustainable,” he said.
He added that infrastructure development plays a strategic role as a foundation for economic growth, as it is capable of increasing inter-regional connectivity, strengthening competitiveness, and opening access to new growth centres.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Suai-Natarbora Highway PMU, Miguel Marques De Jesus Monteiro, explained that Banten was chosen because it is considered to have highly relevant development experience that can serve as a reference for his country.
“Banten is a province that has been developing since its inception in 2000. That experience serves as a good reference for us in building and managing infrastructure projects in Timor-Leste,” said Miguel.
During the programme, participants will be divided into two main fields: engineering and project management. The material provided includes the construction of roads and bridges, quality control systems, and project administration, such as archiving and management governance.
Through this competency enhancement, the Government of Timor-Leste hopes that the capacity of the PMU will be strengthened to support the development of the Suai–Natarbora Highway as strategic infrastructure to support the energy and logistics industrial zones on the southern coast of the country.