17 August 2019, Apia Samoa. Press Release. Samoa-Singapore Talks about Digital Transformation, National ID and Government Digital Services
The Ministers responsible for telecommunication / Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Asia-Pacific Region recently met in Singapore for the Asia- Pacific ICT Ministerial meeting organized by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and hosted by the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore.
The meeting marked the beginning of collaboration between the Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information and the Infocomm Media Development Authority and the Samoa Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).
The Hon. Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Lepuia’i Rico Tupa’i and the Chief Executive Officer, Fualau Talatalaga Matau Matafeo, had the opportunity to meet with the Hon. Minister for the Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information, on areas of mutual collaboration between the two Governments.
The Samoa delegation was also hosted by the Management Team of the Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information and the Infocomm Media Development Authority at their Headquarters, to tour and discuss areas of mutual collaboration on all ICT related matters.
Talks between the two Ministries centered around the Strategic Goals outlined in the APT Singapore Statement to guide efforts to build a connected digital future in the Asia-Pacific region, which are:
Digital Transformation
Digital Innovation Creativity
Digital Community
Digital Trust
Digital Capacity Building and Partnerships.
The talks also centered around Singapore’s Digital Transformation journey and the digitization of Government services, and the lessons Samoa could take from the Singapore experience.
The Hon. Afamasaga Lepuia’i Rico Tupa’i emphasized the importance of these talks for Samoa given the Government’s strategic direction for ICT in the country.
These talks were crucial given the on-going developments in the ICT Sector in Samoa with the launching of the Tui Samoa Cable in 2018 and until recently, the announcement by the Government for the establishment of the Digital Transformation Authority (DTA) whose purpose will be to drive the digital transformation agenda of the Government going forward and act as a central lever through which we can make changes in a coordinated and Whole-of-Government manner among many others.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Hon. Minister and the CEO to look into areas of further collaboration between the two Ministries, with capacity building opportunities for Samoa being a priority agenda, given the crucial need to upskill personnel in the ICT Sector with the fast-pace growth of technology.
The Hon. Minister extended his appreciation to the Minister and staff at the Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information and the Infocomm Media Development Authority for this opportunity and looks forward to continuing collaboration and strengthening of ties between the two Ministries.
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