Digital plan aims to automate all govt systems

THE Digital Government Plan (2023-2027) aims to establish a digital sector, says Information and Communications Technology Department secretary Steven Matainaho.
The plan, still in draft form, has been released for public and stakeholder consultation.
It is designed to operationalise Government objectives as outlined in the ICT Sector Roadmap 2018, PNG Digital Transformation Policy 2020 and Digital Government Act 2022.
Matainaho said the proposed digital sector plan was to fully digitise and automate all government systems.
It also aims to extend telecommunication coverage to reach 90 per cent of the population by 2027.
He said the current ICT investments under the 2021 National Budget (development budget) was K283 million.
“It is also important to note that in the last 10 years, K780 million has been allocated across the National Statistics Office, the National Identity Project, and the PNG Electoral Commission combined for data collection and biometric identity related activities.
“The draft Digital Government Plan calls for a coordinated effort in deployment of one biometric or digital technology for all agencies to use for identity service-related purposes including for e-Voting rollout.”
Matainaho said the consultation would end on Aug 10, 2022.