Banten becomes reference for Timor-Leste on road project management

The Provincial Government of Banten has become a reference for a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in the management of strategic road infrastructure development projects. Governor Andra Soni received the delegation led by Timor-Leste’s Deputy Ambassador Domingus Savio, along with the Project Management Unit (PMU) for the Suai-Natarbora Highway from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, in Serang on Wednesday. “Banten Province welcomes and appreciates the trust of the Government of Timor-Leste in choosing this region as a location for infrastructure learning,” Andra said in Serang on Wednesday. Andra explained that 22 PMU members from Timor-Leste are participating in training for nearly a month, from 2 to 27 July 2026. The training, facilitated by the Banten Provincial Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency, focuses on road and bridge techniques, construction material testing, and project administration governance. Andra said the PMU team is currently planning the construction of a toll road at a location in Timor-Leste, so they need to deepen their overall project management, including the toll road construction process. “We hope this visit will be a means of exchanging experiences, not only in technical aspects but also in building a quality culture so that the resulting infrastructure is robust, safe, and sustainable,” he said. He added that infrastructure development plays a strategic role as a foundation for economic growth because it can improve inter-regional connectivity, strengthen competitiveness, and open access to new growth centres. Meanwhile, PMU Highway Suai-Natarbora Coordinator Miguel Marques De Jesus Monteiro explained that Banten was chosen because it is considered to have highly relevant development experience and can serve as a reference for his country. “Banten is a province that has developed from the beginning since its establishment in 2000. That experience is a good reference for us in building and managing infrastructure projects in Timor-Leste,” Miguel said. During the programme, participants will be divided into two main fields, namely engineering and project management. The materials provided include road and bridge construction, quality control systems, and project administration such as archiving and management governance. Through this competency enhancement, the Government of Timor-Leste hopes the PMU’s capacity will be stronger in supporting the construction of the Suai-Natarbora Highway as strategic infrastructure to support the energy and logistics industrial zone on the country’s southern coast.