Communications minister calls for a regional approach to addressing ICT and Internet governance

2 September 2010

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Communications minister calls for a regional approach to addressing ICT and Internet governance

 

According to the Fiji Islands Minister for Communications, Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) should adopt a regional approach to addressing Internet governance and information and communications technology (ICT) issues affecting the region.

 

In his keynote address at the opening of the Internet Governance and ICT Policy workshop in Suva, the Honourable Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that from a regulatory and economic perspective, it was logical that PICTs work together.

 

'Some of us need to carry the baton for some of the others. For example in Fiji we have recently developed some laws pertaining to cyber crimes. We're quite happy to share them with other Pacific Island countries that do not have them,' said Sayed-Khaiyum.

 

The Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Economic Development Division, Captain John Hogan, told participants that while ICT and the Internet were vital for development, there was also increasing potential for cyber threats.

 

'These are usually in the form of cyber security breaches, and other illegal interventions. For the Pacific, this is an important area to tackle, and PICTs are in the early stages of adopting such protection with help from international experts,' said Captain Hogan.

 

He added that in recognition of the importance of these issues, Pacific ICT officials at a recent meeting in Tonga gave their full support for a Regional Internet Governance Forum to be organised in the Pacific in 2011.

 

The current two-day workshop is a collaborative effort of SPC and DiploFoundation, an international non-governmental organisation.

 

'Diplo's mission is to assist the Pacific Island countries and territories to build institutional capacities in order to meaningfully participate in the global Internet governance debates and initiate the Pacific Internet Governance Forum,' said DiploFoundation Coordinator, Vladimir Radunovic.

 

Sixty participants from both the public and private sectors are attending the sessions.

 

For more information please contact Anju Mangal: anjum@spc.int or Siaosi Sovaleni: siaosis@spc.int.