Wednesday 28 October, 2026
Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Hon. Robert Naguri, has been invited to take part in a cybersecurity discussion in Fiji, where he will focus on regional cooperation and how Pacific countries can work together to deal with cyber threats.
The discussion will also look at the Lagatoi Declaration and the Pacific ICT and Digital Transformation Action Plan, which set out how Pacific countries can work together on cybersecurity and other ICT matters.
The Lagatoi Declaration was adopted in Port Moresby in 2023 during the first Pacific ICT Ministers’ Dialogue hosted by Papua New Guinea.
It provides a common direction for Pacific countries on issues such as internet connectivity, cybersecurity, digital services and the use of technology.
The Action Plan outlines how countries can carry out the work agreed to under the Declaration.
Cybersecurity is one area where regional cooperation is needed. Pacific countries face many of the same problems, from online scams and data theft to attacks on government systems and communication networks.
Not every country has the same resources, technical skills or systems to deal with these threats. This is why sharing information, technical knowledge and support between countries is necessary.
For PNG, the Lagatoi Declaration and Action Plan provide a starting point for this cooperation. Instead of each country trying to address the same problems on its own, Pacific governments can work together to improve their cybersecurity systems and respond to threats.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), through its work in cybersecurity and digital government, has a role in supporting PNG’s commitments under these regional arrangements.
The discussion in Fiji will give PNG an opportunity to raise the need for closer cooperation between Pacific countries, particularly in sharing information on cyber threats, training cybersecurity personnel and improving how countries respond to cyber incidents.
With more government services and everyday activities moving online, cybersecurity is no longer an issue for individual countries alone.
The Lagatoi Declaration and Action Plan already provide the basis for Pacific cooperation. The focus now is on how countries can use these commitments to address the cybersecurity problems they face.