PNG and Fiji to formalise ICT cooperation

Papua New Guinea and Fiji are moving towards a formal agreement to strengthen cooperation in information and communications technology (ICT), following a four-day official visit by PNG's ICT Minister Robert Naguri to Suva.

Minister Naguri returned to Port Moresby today after meetings with Fijian government ministers, senior officials and industry representatives to identify areas of cooperation between the two countries.

He said the visit was not a one-off engagement but the beginning of a stronger and more practical partnership in the ICT sector.

Minister Naguri has directed the Department of ICT, National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC], National Information and Communications Technology Authority [NICTA] and the PNG High Commission in Suva to follow up on the areas of cooperation identified during the visit.

He said both countries would work towards finalising a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] for consideration and signing at the earliest opportunity.

The proposed agreement will provide a framework for information-sharing, technical cooperation, institutional and human resource capacity-building, and joint initiatives across the ICT sector.

Minister Naguri said the discussions highlighted that PNG and Fiji shared similar challenges in ICT, as well as opportunities that could be developed through closer cooperation.

He also said the proposed partnership would be guided by the spirit of the Lakatoi Declaration and complement wider regional priorities under the Pacific Islands Forum infrastructure agenda.

During his visit, Minister Naguri met with his Fijian counterpart, Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane Naivalurua, who formally invited him to Fiji.

The Minister also met with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa and his management team.

His programme included participation in a ministerial panel discussion at Fiji's National Cybersecurity and Resilience Convention, as well as discussions with the Israeli Ambassador to Fiji and Pacific Island states on opportunities for cooperation in ICT and agriculture.

He also visited the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation [FBC], where discussions were held on a proposed MoU with NBC covering digital broadcasting and archiving.

Other engagements included visits to the Fijian Government Data Centre, government digital infrastructure provider Walesi, and executives of Amalgamated Telecom Holdings/Vodafone.

Minister Naguri said he was encouraged by the level of cooperation shown during the visit and was keen to return to Fiji for the formal signing of the proposed MoU.

He was accompanied by Department of ICT Deputy Secretary for Policy Flierl Shongol and NBC Managing Director Kora Nou.