Press Release
October 30, 2024
Mrs Neelo Awan and Mrs Zeenat Aluwihare receive prestigious awards from President Ramos-Horta.
Awarding of the Medal of Merit and Certificate of Recognition to Mrs Neelofer (Neelo) Awan, Co-founder and Director of Administration of the East Timor Trading Group of Companies.
Awarding of the Timor-Leste Solidarity Medal and Certificate of Recognition to Mrs Zeenat Aluwihare, Corporate Affairs Director of the East Timor Trading Group of Companies.
The President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Jose Ramos-Horta, presented these prestigious national honours in recognition of Mrs Awan and Mrs Aluwihare’s outstanding contributions to Timor-Leste’s development through their positions at East Timor Trading Group. The awards were presented at a private ceremony, which included East Timor Trading’s 40-strong management and line management team.
“These awards recognize the exceptional contributions of Mrs Awan and Mrs Aluwihare to Timor-Leste’s development,” said President Ramos-Horta. “Their exemplary leadership and dedication to our nation’s progress set a shining example for others to follow.”
President Ramos-Horta extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to both recipients for their invaluable service to the country. The President’s press release about the awards noted that, “[t]his recognition reflects the nation’s commitment to honoring those who have played pivotal roles in its development and the strengthening of its democratic institutions.”
East Timor Trading Group was established in 2002 by Mr Sakib Awan and Mrs Neelo Awan. This proud family business has become a major contributor to Timor-Leste’s development through its retail, hospitality, and distribution arms and employs over 200 staff – most of whom are Timorese. Now expanding into real estate development, the group continues to pioneer initiatives in education, infrastructure, and community.
Through the Discovery Foundation, co-founded by Mrs Awan, the group has launched a significant corporate social responsibility project establishing pre-schools across Timor-Leste. The ‘Avo Ana Irena Olimpia de Almeida Pre-Schools’ initiative operates three facilities, with a fourth now under construction. Mrs Aluwihare has been instrumental in realizing this project, which ultimately aims to establish pre-schools in every municipality in Timor-Leste.
The staff at East Timor Trading Group extend their congratulations to Mrs Awan and Mrs Aluwihare upon receiving these prestigious awards.
