ASEAN Diplomacy in Manila: Ahead of the July 21 ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Manila is hosting talks with dialogue partners including Russia, China, the US and others, with energy security on the agenda and a push for ratification of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement—key context for Timor-Leste as it integrates deeper into regional frameworks. Offshore Energy Survey for Timor-Leste: Fugro won a contract for deepwater site characterization supporting Greater Sunrise and Bayu Undan, using geophysical, seismic and autonomous underwater vehicle surveys in waters over 3,000m; mobilization is set for Q3 2026 and offshore work for Q4, feeding pipeline routing, engineering design and geohazard assessment. Regional Finance Overhaul: Timor-Leste’s National Parliament approved the General Framework for the Financial System and Banking Activities, expanding the Central Bank’s supervisory powers and setting up a Resolution Fund and Deposit Insurance Fund—aimed at strengthening stability and consumer protection. Fuel Storage Investment: Singapore’s Global Group began building its first Timor-Leste fuel storage terminal in Liquica, a US$10m tank farm with plans to expand capacity by 2030, boosting control over fuel supply for retail, wholesale and construction demand. Dili Dairy Factory Returns: Dili Dairy Factory says it has resumed production and is returning to the market at full capacity after internal work and independent lab testing found no non-compliances. Fisheries Cooperation: A fisheries officer exchange between Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste focused on compliance, monitoring and enforcement, including port inspections and vessel monitoring systems, as part of efforts to curb illegal fishing. ASEAN Chairmanship Roadmap: Vietnam says it will share experience with Timor-Leste as the country prepares for ASEAN chairmanship in 2029, with cooperation opportunities flagged across agriculture, food security, digital transformation, tourism and connectivity.