Based on Decree-law no 5/2015, article 3o Government of Timor-Leste created the Special Administrative Region (SAR) and established the Special Zone of Social Market Economy (ZEESM) in Oé-Cusse district (an enclave nestled within the Western Timor province of Indonesia and with a population of 80,726). UNDP’s support to Oé-Cusse ZEESM is to transform the lives of the people of Oé-Cusse with an integrated approach to sustainable, social, and economic development.

Oé-Cusse is one of the least-explored tourist destinations in South-East Asia and in Timor Leste. It is blessed with diverse unspoiled landscapes, indigenous flora and fauna, abundant marine life, a complex history, traditional cultures, and hospitable communities. While the richness and diversity of Oé-Cusse tourism products offer huge rewards to adventurous, discerning, and nature-conscious travelers, tourism in Oé-Cusse is still in its infancy stage. Oé-Cusse hosts just a handful of international travelers, with most of the visitors being domestic, and the contribution to the economy is still minimal.

The RAEOA Government has identified tourism as one of the potential industries for its efforts for economic diversification and as a part of the rollout process, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been supporting the government to implement the program in terms of sustainable development in Oé-Cusse.