24th October, 2018 The Minister for MEIDECC Hon Poasi Tei opened a three-day regional workshop on e-governance in the Pacific at Scenic Hotel this morning. The workshop is part of a regional cyber capacity-building project by Australia and Estonia supporting e-governance development in the Pacific region.
Hon Tei said, “E-governance has been around the Pacific for a while, shortly after the internet was introduced and rolled out in the 1990s. In fact some Pacific Island nations have drafted strategies and action plans on e-governance years before they started instigating their e-government projects.”
He stated that the Government of Tonga has always envisioned a new era for its citizens where they can capitalize the benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve services for citizens.
As such, a number of measures were initiated:
- Introduction of the National ICT Policy in 2009 to manage connectivity
- Commissioning of the fibre optic cable in 2013
- Establishment of the National Cyber Challenges Taskforce in 2014 to address cyber security challenges
- Amendment of the Communications Acts in 2015 to promote internet access but at the same time criminalise and punish those that abuse and misuse the internet
- Establishment of Tonga CERT in 2016 to detect and manage cyber threats facing businesses, ministries, infrastructure and individuals
- Tonga acceded to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and
- Commissioning of the first phase of the e-government project in March this year
Hon Tei noted that the workshop is timely, as the Pacific needs all the support from experts to strengthen the capacity of e-governance development in the Pacific region.
“We are keen to harness the power of technology to not only improve the lives of citizens but also to promote and sustain economic and social development.”
In addressing the meeting, the Director of Estonia’s e-Governance Academy Mr. Arvo Ott said that the cooperation between Australia and Estonia will benefit Pacific Island Countries.
“We hope that this workshop will give possibility to share experiences with those who are here in from the region, from different government. This is what we are planning to discuss during this three days and we are hoping that this will be the start of a good cooperation with the Pacific.”
Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Tonga Ms. Rhona McPhee said, “Australia’s first International Cyber Engagement Strategy prioritises and coordinates Australia’s whole-of-Government approach to international engagement across the full spectrum of cyber affairs.”
The strategy was launched last year and it covers eight themes which include digital trade, cyber security, cybercrime, international security and cyberspace, internet governance and cooperation, human rights and democracy online, technology for development and comprehensive and coordinated cyber affairs.
She said that the Cyber Cooperation Program has been expanded from 4 million to 15 million. The program will then fund “practical initiatives to realize the policy ambition articulated in each chapter of the Strategy” focusing on the Indo-Pacific region.
“Like Tonga and other countries here today, Australia recognizes the transformative role that digital technologies play in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of government services. e-Governance can improve administration processes, service delivery, government accountability and transparency.”
A bilateral follow-up missions and a matchmaking event with donors and technical service providers will be conducted next year.
According to the Head of Cyber Capacity of ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre, Mr. Bart Hogeveen the mission will provide an incentive and opportunities for participating countries to show where they are at, their ambitions and what kind of supports needed.
“We can’t tell you how to do e-government, we can bring in experience, advice and networks from elsewhere to support and provide support that are of value here in the region given the infrastructural and cultural contexts here.”
Participating countries include Solomon Islands, Kiribati, PNG, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications.