PNG Signs Landmark Digital Deal With Queensland University of Technology

Papua New Guinea has taken a fresh step forward in its push to modernise government services, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Queensland University of Technology aimed at fast-tracking the country's digital government agenda.

The agreement, inked under the Marape-Rosso Government, lays out a strategic framework that will see QUT work alongside PNG authorities on innovation, research, knowledge sharing and workforce development in the digital space.

Prime Minister James Marape and Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Kinoko Feo were both present to witness the signing, while Acting Minister for Information and Communication Technology Peter Tsiamalili put pen to paper on behalf of the State.

 PNG Signs Landmark Digital Deal With Queensland University of Technology

Under the arrangement, QUT is expected to assist the public service in building innovation capacity, strengthen the skills of officers driving PNG's digital transformation work, and support research tied to the SevisPass Digital Identity Ecosystem along with other priority ICT projects.

Acting Minister Tsiamalili described the signing as the start rather than the finish of the process, telling those gathered that the country would now move carefully from policy design into actual implementation while keeping national interests protected.

He made clear that the MoU itself does not authorise specific projects, explaining that each initiative arising from the partnership will still require its own commercial contracts, funding arrangements and government sign-off, in keeping with guidance from the State Solicitor.

Matters such as procurement rules, intellectual property rights, software ownership, cybersecurity obligations, licensing terms, system maintenance and the transfer of knowledge will all be spelled out in later agreements, he said, to ensure the country's position remains secure at every stage.

Data sovereignty featured prominently in the Acting Minister's remarks, with government data required to stay under PNG's ownership and control under any digital solution rolled out through the partnership, in line with existing cybersecurity and public administration laws.

He thanked QUT along with the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council, the Office of the State Solicitor and other agencies for their role in bringing the partnership together.

"Today we sign with purpose. Tomorrow we begin the disciplined work of implementation. Together, we will build a digitally empowered PNG that is innovative, secure, sovereign and ready for the future," Acting Minister Tsiamalili said.