Thursday 15 June, 2023
Stakeholders from government agencies, Cluj IT Cluster, and PNG Digital ICT Cluster, during a one-day Workshop at Holiday Inn, Port Moresby – Thursday 15 June 2023
The PNG Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) hosted a one day stakeholder workshop today, focusing on sharing knowledge and devising strategies to address challenges in website development standards for government agencies, ultimately propelling the sector forward.
The workshop was attended by officials from key government departments, including the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council (PMNEC), Department of Treasury, Department of Commerce and Industry, as well as representatives from the PNG Digital ICT Cluster and the Cluj IT – TYPO3 Association from Romania.
Providing valuable insights into the workshop, Mr. Joshua Honnes, Senior Web Developer at DICT, shed light on the roles played by each participating entity.
He emphasized the pioneering role of DICT in establishing website development standards across the entire government, utilizing the latest technology and cutting-edge ICT tools. Mr. Honnes expressed the department’s enthusiasm, stating, “We are at the forefront of driving website development standards in the government, ensuring the adoption of cutting-edge technology and ICT tools.”
Mr Honnes said the collaboration between DICT and the Cluj IT Cluster TYPO3 Association emerged through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Dubai Expo 2022.
This partnership solidifies the TYPO3 Association’s commitment to providing guidance on best practices, technical support, and policy frameworks as the government departments strive to establish websites for all agencies in the country.
“A significant focus of the workshop revolved around website development and standardization in PNG. DICT presented the existing challenges, while the Cluj IT TYPO3 Association contributed a range of solutions,” Mr Honnes said.
He highlighted that the government of PNG has a vast scope, which encompasses 33 departments, 22 provincial governments, 121 districts, and 22 provincial health authorities, the primary objective is to ensure that every government body establishes a digital presence through the development of websites.
“To achieve this ambitious goal, previous MoUs signed with Unitech and the PNG Digital ICT Cluster come into play, assisting DICT in developing website standards and fostering collaboration that empowers local ICT businesses.
This initiative aims to guarantee that every public agency has an online presence and utilizes a centralized content management system, promoting uniformity and progress throughout the country.”
Acting as the knowledge hub for the sector, the PNG Digital ICT Cluster, a non-profit organization comprising ICT and tech entrepreneurs, intends to create a comprehensive catalog where web developers, content creators, and media professionals can register their expertise.
This catalog will prove instrumental in building websites for government agencies, enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in an effective bidding process.
Mr Honnes said through collaboration with the Digital ICT Cluster, the Department of ICT aims to drive sectoral development and create lucrative opportunities within the ICT industry.
The workshop has laid a solid foundation for streamlined website development standards in PNG, marking a significant stride towards a digitized government landscape.
With the collective efforts of stakeholders and the utilization of advanced ICT tools, Papua New Guinea is poised to enhance its digital presence, stimulate economic growth, and pave the way for unprecedented opportunities for local ICT businesses.