Terry KS Timor-Leste and Malaysia’s Zchwantech are set to collaborate on building a sovereign, AI-powered national digital ecosystem under the Timor Digital 2032 roadmap. The partnership will focus on secure infrastructure, digital identity, smart borders and long-term capability-building to support inclusive national development.
MALAYSIA, 26 DECEMBER 2025 – The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Malaysian technology architect Zchwantech Sdn. Bhd. have announced plans to form a strategic partnership to co-develop a sovereign, AI-powered national digital ecosystem, following a high-level delegation visit to Kuala Lumpur. The initiative aligns with Timor-Leste’s long-term digital transformation roadmap under Timor Digital 2032 and represents a major step toward building secure, future-ready national digital capabilities.
Zchwantech Chairman Datuk Seow Gim Shen said the company is well positioned to support Timor-Leste’s ambitions by delivering end-to-end solutions, including sovereign digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, AI-driven platforms and governance frameworks. He noted that the focus is on building resilient and secure national systems that support long-term nation-building while preserving data sovereignty.
Executive Director Alex Chan added that technology transfer and operational capacity-building will be a core pillar of the collaboration. By working closely with Timor-Leste’s institutions, Zchwantech aims to equip local teams with the skills and expertise needed to manage, operate and continuously enhance the digital platforms, ensuring long-term sustainability and scalability in line with national priorities.
As an initial step, the partnership will conduct a feasibility study for a National Sovereign AI Cloud and Data Centre, designed to Tier 3+ standards and located within Timor-Leste. The proposed infrastructure is intended to underpin national digital services while ensuring data sovereignty, cybersecurity and operational resilience.
Building on this foundation, both parties will explore the development of an AI-enhanced National Digital Identity system incorporating advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence. The Digital ID platform is envisioned as a unified digital key to enable secure access to public services, social benefits and financial systems, strengthening governance and digital inclusion.
The collaboration will also assess secure and smart border management solutions, including automated e-Gates, advanced biometric verification and predictive analytics. These measures aim to enhance national security while improving traveller processing efficiency and the overall tourism experience.
Future phases of cooperation may extend to selected public service innovation initiatives such as smart healthcare, AI-optimised agricultural logistics, predictive maintenance for public infrastructure and personalised digital education platforms. In parallel, the partnership will study the establishment of a Digital Trade Facilitation Corridor, including a National Single Window and AI-driven logistics platforms, to streamline customs processes, reduce trade costs and enhance cross-border efficiency.
Benigno Humberto Gregorio Da Cruz, Chief of Staff for the Minister of State Administration, said Timor-Leste is embarking on a decisive journey to leverage technology as a catalyst for national development. He described the partnership with Zchwantech as a strategic move to build sovereign digital capabilities that serve citizens equitably and advance the country’s Timor Digital 2032 vision.