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In November 2015, the government of Timor-Leste showcased its first Special Zone of Social Market Economy (ZEESM) in the Oecusse-Ambeno enclave in a high-profile ‘celebration of Timorese identity’. This event combined the 40th anniversary of the declaration of Timor-Leste’s independence and the approximately 500th anniversary of interaction with Portugal through the arrival of Dominican missionaries. The ZEESM initiative, first publicised within Oecusse in 2013 and legally formalised in mid-2014, emphasises technical planning, cadastral control, civil service reform and an infrastructure focus (Meitzner Yoder 2015). This In Brief provides an update on the initiative’s progress and examines how ZEESM is affecting local governance as of December 2015. Data for this paper were gathered in Oecusse, November–December 2015, via attendance at public events, interviews and document review
