International donors pledged $360 million in new aid for East Timor at the end of talks today.
East Timor will be Asia's poorest nation when it becomes independent at midnight on Sunday (4 p.m. Irish time).
A statement said: "In addition to $81 million already available through the Trust Fund for East Timor and the United Nations successor mission, the new country will have access to more than $440 million over the next three years (against a request of just over $400 million)".
The $360 million includes $82 million in firm commitments to meet the new government's estimated budget deficit over the next three years - until oil and gas revenues start rolling in.
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AFP