Wednesday 10th June, 2026
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the International Training Institute (ITI), signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) yesterday to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), ICT skills development, training, research, and digital innovation in Papua New Guinea.
The agreement focuses on building ICT capability through curriculum enhancement, internships, corporate training, staff upskilling, and the joint development of AI-driven use cases aligned with national digital transformation goals.
From the agreement, a technical Working Group will be established to guide and coordinate the implementation of the partnership over the five-year period.
The signing ceremony brought together DICT Secretary Mr. Steven Matainaho, Deputy Secretary (Policy & Emerging Technology) Mr. Flierl Shongol, and senior officials from the department. Representing ITI were Chairman and Co-Founder Mr. Senthil Kumaran Sentheyval and Director/Dean of Studies Mr. Sivanathan Sivaruban, alongside the institution’s academic leadership team.
ITI Chairman and Co-Founder Mr. Senthil Kumaran Sentheyval said the partnership reflects a shared vision in advancing technology, education, and innovation.
“We want to progress, we are also going into IT and AI, so this is something we would like to do — to find out where we can share. DICT has its own summit and conference, and we have ours. Working together in the same direction is good, and it is encouraging to collaborate with the department to progress further,” he said.
He added that ITI’s role continues to focus on training while also contributing to innovation in digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
“As an institution, we are here for the training side, but also to be part of the innovation of future progress in digitalization and AI. It is always good to have the educational side involved in that as well,” he said.
DICT Secretary Mr. Steven Matainaho emphasized that the partnership is aligned with government priorities on digital government, digital economy development, and the national AI strategy. He noted that artificial intelligence must be applied in practical use cases to deliver real value.
“AI alone is nothing, but AI pegged to a use case — that’s where you start to see the value. This partnership is about exploring and incubating those ideas and use cases, and what better way to do it than with higher education institutions.”
He highlighted SMEs as a key focus area, noting that AI can help reduce costs, improve efficiency, and open access to new markets. He added that DICT’s AI Adoption Framework and National AI Strategy are designed to be implemented through partnerships that turn policy into real-world solutions.
The collaboration will support AI training models, development of use cases, AI lab experimentation, and wider adoption of digital tools across government, SMEs, and industry.
The partnership will also be showcased at the Digital Transformation Summit 2026 as part of ongoing national digital transformation efforts.
This five-year MOU positions DICT and ITI to work together in strengthening digital skills, advancing AI capability, and supporting innovation across Papua New Guinea’s public and private sectors.