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East Timor: Dili working to attract German investment - President Gusmão

Berlin, Oct. 21 (Lusa) - East Timorese President Xanana Gusmão said Thursday that the Dili government is readying an accord to allow German companies to securely invest in fisheries, tourism and coffee cultivation in his country.

Speaking on the second day of an official trip to Germany, Gusmão said the Timorese government was just beginning to create legal frameworks for foreign investment in the new nation.

Dili, however, is preparing a special investment accord to encourage German firms to invest in key sectors of Timor`s economy, he added.

Germany is a key aid partner to Dili and has provided some euros 27 million in aid since 1999.

The Timorese leader, making his first trip to Germany and accompanied by Dili's foreign minister, José Ramos Horta, described his meetings Wednesday with senior Berlin officials as "very positive".

Gusmão held separate encounters with President Horst Koehler, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and Berlin's minister for aid and development, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul.

He briefed German business executives Thursday on investment opportunities in his country.

Timor's head of state, a keen follower of football, also visited Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin, meeting two Brazilian players and an Angolan teammate.

FA/CJB Lusa