Wednesday, 7 May 2025
Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Hon. Timothy Masiu, hosted the Ambassador for Austria to Australia and the Pacific Her Excellency Elisabeth Kögler, at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) during her bilateral visit on Wednesday 7th May, 2025.
The high-level bilateral meeting saw discussions on potential cooperation in areas including Digital ID, cybersecurity, e-government services, and climate-smart technology, as part of growing relations between Austria and Papua New Guinea.
“Papua New Guinea looks forward to working closely with Austria to deepen our relations, particularly in the areas of digital transformation, climate resilience, and people-to-people exchanges,” said Minister Masiu during the meeting.
“Austria’s commitment to sustainable development, regional peace, and environmental protection aligns with our own national priorities.”
The Minister expressed admiration for Austria’s digital government advancements, particularly its ID Austria platform, Digitales Amt mobile application, and its holistic approach to citizen-centric digital services.
“Austria’s leadership in digital transformation is truly inspiring,” Minister Masiu said.
“We are building our own digital platforms—SevisPass, SevisPortal, and SevisWallet—and we welcome Austria’s expertise in digital ID, data interoperability, and service design.”
The ICT Minister highlighted key areas for future collaboration, including technical exchanges, cybersecurity cooperation, digital skills development, and climate-tech partnerships.
“We see real potential for joint work on digital identity infrastructure, cybersecurity readiness, and even climate-smart solutions using digital tools,” he added.
“Austria’s experience could greatly benefit our journey in building a modern, inclusive, and resilient digital government.”
Ambassador Kögler welcomed the dialogue and applauded Papua New Guinea’s innovation and regional leadership in the ICT sector.
“PNG is a trailblazer in the communication space in the Pacific,” Ambassador Kögler said.
“We are certainly eager to explore more areas in ICT and would be glad to consider government-to-government exchanges in the e-government space.”
She further emphasized the importance of robust communications infrastructure in national development, noting that “you cannot build a resilient economy when your communications are lagging behind.”
Ambassador Kögler also expressed interest in PNG’s engagement in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and regional ICT efforts, and assured the Minister of Austria’s intention to support digital development through appropriate channels.
“I will report back home to our respective government agencies and see how we can help,” she said.
Minister Masiu reaffirmed DICT’s readiness to work with Austria and other like-minded partners in transforming Papua New Guinea’s digital landscape.
“Please consider my Department as a willing and active partner,” said Minister Masiu.
“Together with partners like Austria, we can build a future-ready government that truly serves our people.”
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