Fiji is actively pursuing a future-ready digital economy, drawing inspiration from Singapore’s stellar digital infrastructure as a model. During a recent visit to Singapore, Shaheen Ali, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Trade, Co-operatives, MSMEs, and Communications, delved into the country’s Smart Nation 2.0 and AI Strategy 2.0. These insights are instrumental in shaping Fiji’s own National Digital Strategy, aiming to foster a trusted, inclusive, and innovative digital ecosystem.
Singapore’s success, with 99% of its government services online and a digital economy constituting 17.7% of its GDP, serves as a benchmark for Fiji. The island nation aspires to fortify its digital networks, enhance e-government services, and ensure equal access for all of its citizens. Discussions during the visit also revolved around mitigating digital threats, such as scams, and Fiji is keen on implementing protective measures similar to Singapore’s ScamShield app. This will bolster the efforts of Fiji’s Anti-Scam Taskforce, thus fostering greater public trust in digital services.
Fiji’s strides towards a digital future are not just limited to these recent undertakings. The nation recently launched the National Digital Strategy 2025-2030, a comprehensive plan aimed at transforming its digital landscape. This framework anticipates increasing the ICT sector’s contribution to Fiji’s GDP from 4.2% to 10% by 2030, creating 40,000 jobs, and attracting significant foreign investment. Additionally, efforts are being made to enhance cybersecurity, fundamental for safeguarding economic growth in Fiji’s burgeoning digital economy.
The launch of initiatives such as M-PiAISA and VITI CART showcase the private sector’s role in innovation, aligning with the strategy’s goals of bolstering e-commerce and emphasizing digital literacy and infrastructure development. Partnerships with programs like Australia’s Pacific Digital Economy Program are also crucial, enhancing Fiji’s e-commerce capabilities through better data collection and analysis.
Through these strategic initiatives, Fiji aims to solidify itself as a digital hub in the Pacific, presenting a hopeful path towards a prosperous and inclusive digital society. By leveraging innovations and fostering collaborations, Fiji is not only strengthening its economy but also striving to improve the quality of life for all citizens, paving the way for an interconnected, thriving digital future.
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