PNG Advances Toward a Unified Digital Government Through Strengthened Policy and Nationwide Implementation

Papua New Guinea’s digital transformation is accelerating under a strengthened and cohesive national digital government framework, guided by a series of foundational policies enacted over recent years.

These include the Digital Transformation Policy (2020), Digital Government Act (2022), National Cybersecurity Policy (2021), Data Governance and Protection Policy (2024), and the Government Cloud Policy (2023). Together, these measures create a clear strategic direction for modernizing government services by establishing secure, interoperable, and citizen-centric digital systems.

This policy foundation is further reinforced by NEC Decision 183/2025, which positions Service Pass, Service Decks, and the Service Portal as the backbone of Papua New Guinea’s emerging digital public infrastructure. These platforms aim to replace fragmented, siloed systems with a unified approach that supports secure identity, trusted transactions, and future innovations such as digital voting and enhanced AML/CTF compliance.

The Digital Government Summit 2025 (DGS25) marks a turning point from vision-setting to full-scale national implementation. One of the most significant developments showcased at the summit is the launch of the E-Recruitment system, a major reform initiative led by the Department of Personnel Management.

This system modernizes government hiring processes, improves transparency, and strengthens workforce management in line with the Prime Minister’s broader governance directives. Secretary Sansa has been tasked with ensuring its effective rollout and integration across government.

Another landmark announcement was the unveiling of Papua New Guinea’s first digital ID, built upon the NID system and six key government data anchors. Designed to streamline secure access to public and private sector services, the digital ID will progressively integrate across agencies, enabling greater efficiency, reduced fraud risks, and a more seamless citizen experience.

A defining feature of this year’s summit is the strong emphasis on youth engagement, recognizing young people as essential drivers of PNG’s long-term digital future. A full day of the summit has been dedicated to hands-on activities, including coding challenges, gaming competitions, cyber safety awareness, and digital creativity labs. This investment signals the government’s commitment to developing a skilled innovative workforce capable of sustaining the country’s digital transformation over the next 50 years.

Strategically, PNG’s digital agenda is increasingly framed as a catalyst for national development. The Prime Minister’s keynote is expected to link technology to economic growth, improved governance, and strengthened public trust. Minister for ICT Peter Sevanoli Jr. emphasized that digital transformation is central to modernizing the state, enhancing citizen–government interaction, and rebuilding national pride.

He highlighted interoperability and digital platforms as vital enablers of a more transparent and inclusive public service.

The summit brings together An extensive coalition of partners—including government agencies, private sector leaders, academia, civil society, and development organizations—to drive implementation, align priorities, and build collective ownership of the digital transformation agenda.