Saturday 20 April, 2024
Hon. Timothy Masiu, Minister for Information and Communication Technology, in a significant step forward for Papua New Guinea’s digital transformation, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the People’s Republic of China.
“The agreement was formalized Saturday evening in Port Moresby in the presence of the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China,” stated Minister Masiu.
“This partnership aligns seamlessly with the Government of Papua New Guinea’s aggressive pursuit of digital transformation as outlined in its key policy documents including the Digital Transformation Policy 2020, Digital Government Act 2022, and the PNG Government Technological Stack,” Minister Masiu continued.
“The timing is critical as the nation is on the cusp of launching transformative projects such as the National Broadcasting Corporation’s Analogue to Digital Broadcasting Migration, the Citizens’ eGovernment Portal, and the Digital ID Wallet,” he added.
“The partnership outlines several areas of cooperation including the exchange of information on digital transformation, digital government, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, cloud computing, blockchain, cybersecurity, smart cities, 5G technology, and big data,” Minister Masiu elaborated.
“This collaboration is not just timely but instrumental in securing additional investment funding, which will enhance the infrastructure necessary to support these digital services,” emphasized Minister Masiu.
“Furthermore, this MOU provides a framework for the development of cooperation assistance, which is crucial for PNG as it seeks to leverage Chinese expertise and innovation,” he continued.
Minister Masiu highlighted, “This includes fostering bilateral exchanges and encouraging leading Chinese enterprises to provide multilingual software and robust digital infrastructure support where relevant and appropriate.”
“By facilitating an open exchange of knowledge and resources, this partnership will significantly contribute to the capacity building of PNG’s ICT sector. It will enable our nation to not only keep pace with global technological advancements but also to become a leader in digital innovation in the Pacific region,” Minister Masiu asserted.
“As a ‘friend to all and enemies to none’, the Government of Papua New Guinea extends its sincere gratitude to the People’s Republic of China firstly for their friendship and secondly for their continued willingness to support Papua New Guinea’s digital journey,” expressed Minister Masiu.
“We are confident that this collaboration, bonded by the will to foster genuine friendship and cooperation, shall yield substantial benefits for our people and contribute significantly to our nation’s socio-economic development,” concluded Minister Masiu.