Wednesday 6 December 2023
(l-r) Mr. Stephen Nukuitu, Deputy Secretary Operations of the Department of Finance, Executive from Department of Finance, Mr. Pier Smulders, General Manager of Alibaba Cloud New Zealand and Australia, DICT Deputy Secretary Digital Government Mr Russell Woruba, and DICT Secretary Mr Steven Matainaho
Secretary for the Department of Information and Communications Technology Mr Steven Matainaho stated in a meeting with General Manager of Alibaba Cloud for New Zealand and Australia, that Papua New Guinea is excited to explore the potential of partnering with Alibaba Cloud to enhance efficiency and scope of government services.
This significant meeting, held on Wednesday 6 December, focused on Alibaba’s Cloud potential to support the PNG government’s digital transformation agenda, particularly in the areas of whole-of-government cloud solutions and digital payments.
The Government of PNG intends to explore the potential of partnering with Alibaba Cloud to leverage on their expertise and experience in cloud computing which will play a significant role in advancing our digital economy.
Mr. Pier Smulders, General Manager of Alibaba Cloud New Zealand and Australia, expressed the Cloud Giant’s strong interest in collaborating with the PNG government. “We are committed to supporting PNG’s digital transformation journey and believe our cloud services can help the country achieve its goals,” He stated.
Also in attendance was Mr. Stephen Nukuitu, Deputy Secretary Operations of the Department of Finance who highlighted the potential for Alibaba Cloud’s solutions to revolutionize government payments and drive financial inclusion in PNG.
“Alibaba Cloud’s offerings have the potential to transform how the PNG government makes and receives payments, adding, “This could have a significant impact on the efficiency and transparency of government spending,” Mr Nukuitu said.
This strategic dialogue followed the public release of a series of Requests for Information (RFIs) on various components of the Government Technology Stack.
The next round of discussions between the PNG government and Alibaba Cloud will focus on the technical aspects of Alibaba Cloud’s services and how they align with the PNG government’s key priorities.
The aim is to establish a long-term partnership roadmap that will foster mutual growth and technological advancement.