New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of India and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of Papua New Guinea have recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU serves as an agreement to collaborate and share INDIA STACK – a comprehensive collection of open APIs and digital public goods that aim to streamline identity, data, and payment services on a large scale. This strategic partnership between the two ministries will ensure a more efficient and reliable technological infrastructure, promoting a professional, engaging, and informative environment for both nations.
Highlighting the significance of the India stack offerings, Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a forward-thinking vision for India’s technology capabilities. The India stack is now accessible to any nation interested in embracing the digitalization trend that has gained momentum in recent years. Previously, discussions about digitization often revolved around the disparities between advanced nations and others. However, through strategic partnerships like this one, countries that share a common mindset can collaborate to innovate and implement Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs), ultimately fostering a vibrant ecosystem focused on technology and innovation sharing.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the presence of Abhishek Singh, President & CEO of the National eGovernance Division, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India, and Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India, along with senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs & National E-Governance Division, MeitY.
Leading the Papua New Guinea delegation was Steven Matainaho, Secretary of the Department of Information and Communication Technology, accompanied by Noel Colin Awiroweng Mobiha, Board Chairman of the National ICT Authority, and other senior members.
This collaboration occurred after a meeting between the Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Timothy Mark Masiu, MP & Minister for ICT, Papua New Guinea, last week. Their discussions focused on potential cooperation in the fields of IT, emerging technologies, and the India stack.
During the meeting, they covered various important aspects of digital transformation, including Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Identity, Digital Payment, Data Exchange, Data Governance, Data Protection Policies, internet, and mobile connectivity. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to strengthen capacities and facilitate the sharing and implementation of population-scale Digital Public Infrastructure and Transformational Platforms/projects. Its aim is to improve living standards and enhance efficiency and transparency in governance.
