Mr. Tony Duarte intends to run for the presidency of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in early. 2022.
Tony Felizberto Araujo Duarte born on 1 June 1978 in Dili, Timor-Leste. At that time Timor-Leste was known as Timor Timur (East Timor), the 27th province of Indonesia. Now, Timor-Leste is an independent nation. Its independence was restored on 20 May 2002.
He is the fourth in my family. He has two sisters and three brothers. Two brothers were activists in the Santa Cruz Massacre incident. After the independence, one of them, Nataliano de Araujo Duarte passed away due to illness.
His parents are Matias Gouveia Duarte and my mother, Pascoela de Araujo Duarte. Both are from the district of Same, Manufahi. Their ancestors are from Same, Manufahi and are relative descendants from the well-known and historical national hero Dom Boaventura, whose father is Dom Duarte.
His father, Matias Gouveia Duarte, was a medical nurse and is a national hero. He was a very active clandestine organizer. He was the general responsible of the Medical Services of the CNRM, National Council of Maubere Resistance, an umbrella organization for the independence movement. He disappeared in September 1999, days after the announcement of the 30 August referendum and presumed killed by forces opposing to the independence movement.
His father was posthumously awarded the highest honor, the Order of Timor-Leste by the President of the Republic, Mr. Taur Matan Ruak, for his significant contribution to the national independence and for having provided safe refuge in our house in Kuluhun, to Mr. Xanana Gusmao, the commander of the armed forces and the independence movement during the struggle for independence. Here is the picture taken in 1991 in their house in Kuluhun. The Order of Timor-Leste was received by his mother, Pascoela de Araujo Duarte.
He has studied in Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Australia, the United Kingdom and South Korea. Moreover, He has more than 15 years of working experience in banking and finance, government, the United Nations Agency, International NGO, Parliament of Timor-Leste, private company and political party, both in Timor-Leste and overseas.
In the course of undertaking my professional work, education and in private capacity, he has visited the following countries Indonesia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the United States of America, Panama, Portugal, Spain, India, the United Kingdom & Northern Ireland, Qatar, Swiss, France, Cuba, Malaysia, Singapore, Belgium, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Norway, Germany, Vietnam, New Zealand, China (Macau, Hong Kong) and South Korea. In addition, he has also participated in various international seminars, conferences and meetings.
Education:
Kindergarten in Paulus VI, Lecidere, Dili (former Residence of Bishop Belo, one of the two Nobel Peace Prize Winners besides Jose Ramos Horta).
Elementary School no. 3 Lapangan Pramuka (Democracy Football Field) Dili. Now the school is named as Escola Basica Filial Nu Laran.
Junior High School, Selesian Seminary Dom Filipe Rinaldi, Venilale, Baucau, Timor-Leste.
Senior High School, Seminary Balide, Saint Joseph, Balide and Paulo VI, Acadiruhun, Dili, Timor-Leste.
One Year Jesuit School, Senior High School, Petrus Kanisius, Mertoyudan, Magelang, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Bachelor of Arts, English, University of Timor Timur (now National University of Timor-Leste) (Interrupted in 1999 due to separation of Timor-Leste from Indonesia).
Advanced English Language Course, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Bachelor of Business, Banking and Finance Specialization, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
Diploma of Financial Services, Foreign Exchange Specialization, Australian Financial Markets Association, Australia.
Certificate, Securities and Investment, Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, London, United Kingdom.
Graduate Certificate in Organizational Management, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom.
Master of Public Policy Student, Korean School of Public Policy and Management, Sejong, South Korea.
Language Spoken:
Tétum (Fluent)
Indonesia (Fluent)
English (Fluent)
Portuguese (Fluent)
Spanish, Victoria University, Australia (Advanced Course)
French (Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom) (Basic Course)
Professional Experience:
President of the Specialized Investment Agency of Timor-Leste. The office is now renamed TradeInvest Timor-Leste.
Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser for the State Secretary for Private Sector of V Constitutional Government, Ms. Veneranda Lemos & Focal Point of Forum of Macau and ASEAN.
Adviser to State Secretary for the Promotion of Equality of IV Constitutional Government, Mrs. Idelta Rodrigues.
Director General of Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Timor-Leste of IV Constitutional Government. (Ms. Vicky Tchong was the Secretary General of the Ministry).
Project Coordinator of Embassy of Timor-Leste in Beijing, China (Ambassador at that time was Mr. Olimpio Miranda Branco and Ms. Vicky Tchong as the Counsellor, who was later appointed as Secretary General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China).
Graduate Trainee, Australian and New Zealand Bank (ANZ), Timor-Leste.
Special Assistant to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Timor-Leste (Office of Mr. Jose Ramos Horta, Foreign Minister and later he was nominated Prime Minister and elected President of Timor-Leste).
Translator and Interpreter, Press Office, Constituent Assembly of Timor-Leste. Now, Parliament of Timor-Leste.
Programme Assistant, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Timor-Leste.
Finance Assistant, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Timor-Leste.
Office Manager, Medecines Sans Fronteires (Doctors Without Borders), International NGO, Dili, Timor-Leste.
Freelance Translator and Interpreter for various international media outlets operating in Timor-Leste leading up to the 30 August 1999 referendum.
Scholarship Awards:
Bishop Belo Scholarship, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Timor-Leste Australian Government Scholarship Global Ambassador Scholarship, South Korea
Significant Contribution to the Economy of Timor-Leste:
1st Internationally-renowned Foreign Direct Investment, Heineken Brewery Factory of around 40 million USD in Timor-Leste
Video of Signing Ceremony of Heineken and Government of Timor-Leste
Google Map of Heineken Factory in Hera, Dili, Timor-Leste
News on Heineken Investment in Timor-Leste:
No small beer for East Timor – The Edge Review
Heineken targets Timor-Leste
Heineken entry could open taps on foreign investment