Kuala Lumpur: The official visit by Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao to Weststar Group’s headquarters reflects the shared commitment of both Weststar Group and the Timor-Leste government to strengthening bilateral cooperation in aviation, energy support services, and economic development.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Group managing director Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim highlighted that Weststar’s relationship with Timor-Leste began in 2014 with the supply of 10 units of 4×4 general service cargo vehicles to the Timor-Leste Defence Force. This year, the company has expanded its operations to include rotary-wing aviation support, deploying two AW189 helicopters in Dili under a contract with Santos in the Bayu Undan field.

As part of Weststar’s long-term commitment to the region, the company is collaborating with Timor-Leste’s national oil and gas company, Timor GAP, to introduce the AW139 helicopter fleet. This next phase of operations will include support for utility, VIP, and emergency medical services (EMS).

Syed Azman noted that Weststar has already conducted two EMS missions in Timor-Leste, one of which involved air transport for the late Padre Domingos Maubere, a respected spiritual leader in the country. He emphasized that these efforts reflect the capabilities of Weststar’s operations and the humanity that drives their mission.

Additionally, the visit served as a platform to acknowledge Timor-Leste’s impending full accession to ASEAN, a milestone that Weststar supports. Syed Azman expressed the company’s readiness to back this transition by contributing to the region’s infrastructure and human capital development.

According to the statement, Weststar Aviation Services, a subsidiary of the group, is expanding its footprint in Timor-Leste as part of a broader strategic vision to enhance the company’s presence in Southeast Asia. The focus will be on safety, service excellence, and sustainable growth in the energy and government aviation sectors.