Digital transformation

Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Timothy Masiu, is emphasizing that the country to break away from long-awaited service delivery that takes several years.

He was referring to the partnership between NICTA and a local entrepreneur called Gabaspot Digital Hub set up in Gabagaba village in Central Province that took three years to launch.

“We need to move and we need to intensify. I don’t want to hear any more of a facility that’s taking three years to build in a village. Let’s cut off all the three years and make it in six months.

Twenty-two (22) students presented their final research projects, which is a requirement in order to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree. The symposium promoted service delivery, especially being of service to others.

The event, centered around the rapid digital transformation sweeping across the Pacific region. It featured keynote speaker and Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Steven Matainaho.

Prominent figures and experts convened at the event to delve into the pivotal aspects of digital transformation. Mihai Sora, Project Director of the Australia-PNG Network, set the stage by highlighting the network's role in fostering cross-border connections.

This effective approach aims to revolutionize digital transformation in PNG, setting the stage for a cost-effective, streamlined, and measurable approach to accelerate the country’s digitalization agenda.

DICT Secretary, Steven Matainaho said the adoption of a technology stack approach is crucial to PNG’s digital transformation journey.

He emphasized its significance in promoting the use of interoperable, generic, and reusable building blocks for digitizing services.

“With the implementation of the PNG Digital Transformation Policy 2020, the Digital Government Act 2022, and the establishment of the National Cyber Security Centre, we have laid a strong foundation for embracing the opportunities presented by the digital age,” said Masiu.

Masiu added, “In the last six months of implementation, I advise that the piloted Government Cloud Infrastructure is hosting 27 government agencies critical services, in additions, the National Cyber Security Centres monitors an additional 15 government agencies networks and endpoint devices.

Estonia is known as the world’s most advanced digital society.

The Estonian Ambassador to Australia and the Pacific, Her Excellency, Kersti Eesmaa, paid a courtesy visit to PNG. She was received by Minister of ICT, Timothy Masiu.

Eesmaa is Ambassador to Australia, and accredited to Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Ambassador Eesmaa was accompanied by the European Union (EU) Ambassador to PNG, His Excellency Jacques Fradin.

Department Secretary, Steven Matainaho, in a statement yesterday, 28^th July informed all public bodies, stakeholders, and the general public of the release of the draft Digital Government Plan 2023-2027.

The draft Plan proposes to operationalize the key Government policy objectives as outlined in the:

Pacific Architects faced several challenges prior to the digital transformation. This included slow internet speed, cumbersome data filing, a storage system that worked intermittently, non-existent file sharing system and inefficient interconnectivity.

The firm reached out to Port Moresby-based technology company, SNS Tech, to provide sustainable solutions for their business.

The department knows that digital transformation is not just about technology, and to achieve successful digital transformation means getting other critical components such as people, organisational culture and even systems and processes right.

“To build a safe, secure and productive digital economy starts with getting our people and our culture right and we are doing that already,” said the department.

Minster for Information and Communications Technology, Timothy Masiu highlighted the success of the Summit, which included speakers from the private and public sector who covered topics of importance.

He said the three days event was fruitful with real-time interactions of audiences and speakers via social media.