The Wire

Timor Leste’s new prime minister, Jose Ramos Horta is currently in Australia, discussing ways to boost his country’s standard of living and solidify its political stability. He told the ABC’s Lateline program last night that he wants the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to conduct a feasibility study of East Timor economy as it currently stands, so that the multi-lateral lending bodies can suggest ways to boost the levels of foreign investment. This report looks at those on both side of the debate on whether East Timor should encourage greater involvement by the World Bank and IMF in order to lift its standard of living. First up Helen Hill, a researcher in East Timor and a senior lecturer in Sociology at Victoria University.