As the East-Timor Trading (ETT) Group gathered for its first town hall of the year, the Chairman, Mr Sakib Awan’s message was clear, calm, and reassuring: 2025 was a year the company can be proud of – and 2026 will be about building carefully on that foundation.
Reflecting on the year gone by, he acknowledged that 2025 marked one of the strongest performances in the Group’s history. Sales were solid, market leadership was strengthened, and growth continued across business lines. Yet the emphasis was not on numbers alone. The true achievement, he noted, lay in the collective effort behind those results – discipline, teamwork, and a shared commitment to doing things properly.
From warehouses and retail outlets to hospitality, logistics, offices, and support teams, every role played its part. Full shelves, timely deliveries, satisfied customers, and upheld standards were not coincidences; they were the outcome of people taking pride in their work. The message was unambiguous: the success of 2025 belonged to the employees.
The Chairman also acknowledged an important transition within the Group’s leadership. As Ms Milena Pires, the CEO, completes her term, heartfelt thanks were extended for her steady leadership, professionalism, and contributions to the company’s progress. During her tenure, ETT strengthened its operational foundations, navigated complex challenges, and achieved key strategic goals that will continue to benefit the Group for years to come, leaving ETT better positioned for its next chapter.
At the heart of the Group’s progress, the Chairman reiterated, is its people. ETT continues to invest in Timorese talent, promote fairness and opportunity, support learning and development, and ensure that women and men grow together. This people-first approach is not just a value – it is a business strength that customers and partners recognize.
Looking ahead, the Chairman reaffirmed ETT’s long-term commitment to Timor-Leste. Growth in 2026 will be deliberate and responsible, focused as much on strengthening existing operations as on exploring new opportunities. Improving systems, upgrading facilities, investing in technology, and developing leaders from within will remain priorities. Expansion, he stressed, will never come at the expense of jobs or stability.
The year ahead also brings a new context. With Timor-Leste’s entry into ASEAN, standards will rise, and competition will intensify. ETT intends to meet this moment through professionalism, compliance, and consistent execution – by getting the basics right every day.
The Chairman closed on a personal note, recalling the Group’s origins in 1991 and the many hardships it has endured. ETT was built to protect livelihoods and to last. That purpose, he reminded the audience, remains unchanged.
2025 demonstrated what unity and discipline can achieve, and 2026 will be about sustaining that effort – with focus, humility, and quiet confidence in the road ahead, he concluded.
