As the newest member of the United Nations, Timor-Leste intends to subscribe to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which resulted from the Millennium Assembly in New York, September 2000. As a first step towards this commitment, the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) and the United Nations held a MDG Conference at Hotel Timor in Dili during 26-27 March 2003.

The objectives of the conference were to raise awareness and increase understanding of the MDGs, take stock of the present status of development indicators in Timor-Leste and explore relationships between MDGs and already established National Development Goals (NDGs) of Timor-Leste.

The conference was attended by approximately 200 participants and was opened by H.E. Dr. Mari Alkatiri, Prime Minister, and H.E. Mr. Karmalesh Sharma, Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) in Timor-Leste. Participants included almost all GoTL Ministers; senior and middle level Government officials and representatives of a wide range of development partners, civil society organizations, media and UN Agencies, Programmes and Funds.

Official MDG Web Site (external, www.undp.org/mdg)

Millennium Development Goals Conference Report for Timor-Leste (word document, March 2003)

MDG in Timor-Leste Visual Presentation (pdf)

Millenium Development Report for Timor-Leste