THE INFLUENCE · GLOBAL BUSINESS
By Women Who Influence
Imagine a small supplier that can fulfill a catering order but finds out about a public tender only after bids close. The business may have the staff, equipment and experience to do the work. The missing ingredient was time to see the opportunity and respond. That hypothetical illustrates one of the practical barriers highlighted in a new trade assessment in Timor-Leste.
What the review found
On October 19, officials and business representatives met in Dili to discuss how trade policy affects women-led firms. The International Trade Centre’s SheTrades Outlook assessment drew on consultations with 18 institutions and organizations, including the central bank and the Timor-Leste Businesswomen Association. The review comes after the country joined the World Trade Organization in 2024 and ASEAN in 2025.
The assessment describes equal legal rights to own and inherit property as a strength. It also identifies gaps in trade finance and in how institutions track which businesses receive support. Among its recommendations are publishing government tenders of all sizes on the electronic procurement platform, consulting women’s business associations on trade policy, and offering targeted export assistance in sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
The WWI perspective
Putting small contracts where owners can find them is one step. The next is making the requirements clear enough for a small firm to decide whether it can bid. A first-time supplier needs to know the quantities, delivery schedule, documents and payment terms before it can price the work. Even a firm that wins an order may have to pay staff and buy supplies weeks before the buyer pays.
That is where the review’s proposals on procurement and finance intersect. Better notices can give a business time to prepare. Financing can help a qualified supplier fulfill an order. Owners need to assess the cost and conditions of that financing against the contract’s margins and payment schedule.
The next evidence to look for is what agencies and lenders implement. Useful measures would include how many smaller tenders appear online, how many eligible women-led firms submit bids and win work, and whether those firms can finance delivery. Counting participation at a workshop would answer a different question.
Sources
- International Trade Centre, Policy Insights on Women and Trade – Timor-Leste, October 6, 2026.
- ITC SheTrades, Timor-Leste reviews how its trade policies affect women-led businesses, October 20, 2026.
- TATOLI, European Union supports analysis on Timor-Leste women’s participation in trade, October 22, 2026.
