Takshashila Policy Brief - For an Indian Touch in Timor-Leste

Executive Summary

Timor-Leste, Asia’s newest democracy, presents India with an excellent opportunity to put into place a coherent international development strategy. As this policy brief argues, India should not only upgrade its diplomatic presence in the East Asian republic, but also give a focus to its development initiatives by investing in human capital. It proposes that New Delhi set-up a business park outside Dili, Timor-Leste’s main city to allow private enterprise to flourish.

It also calls upon the Indian government to set up an Indian International Development Agency (InDA) under the Ministry of External Affairs, to achieve better outcomes for its foreign assistance outlays.

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