VITAL information and communications technology (ICT) can benefit not just individual companies but the country’s economy as a whole.
This was asserted by Deputy Australian High Commissioner Ann Harrap in a remark she delivered at the opening of the Datec technology exposition at Crowne Plaza in Port Moresby last Thursday night.
Ms Harrap stressed that “human history has demonstrated time and again that the adoption of the latest technologies is vital to economic growth and prosperity”.
“From the Australian government’s perspective, we’re very happy, particularly through the Austrade office here in Port Moresby, to be associated with the expo.
“And we certainly look forward to working with Datec and others in future to ensure that the people of PNG are able to take advantage of all that new technology has to offer,” Ms Harrap said.
ICT had helped to bring the outside world even closer, and brought about extraordinary advances in the fields of health, education and the arts, to name just a few.
The ICT sector made an enormous contribution to the Australian economy, contributing around 4.5% of the country’s GDP, Ms Harrap said.
Innovations in computing and communications technologies had accounted for between 50% and 80% of Australia’s productivity gains over the last two decades.