The Government of Tonga was represented at the 16th APT Policy and Regulation Forum for Pacific (PRFP-16) from 30 August to 1 September 2023 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea by Mr. ‘Alifeleti T. Tu’ihalamaka, Director for Communication Department/Head of Delegation and Mr. William Stan ‘Ahio, Chief Engineer Communication Department, MEIDECC.

 The forum was hosted by the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), Papua New Guinea, and supported by the generous contributions from Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Australia and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan.

PRFP-16 was proceeded by the Pacific ICT Ministerial Dialogue (28-29 August 2023), which adopted a Ministerial Declaration on the theme “Connected Pacific – Enabling Aspirations through ICT”.

Accordingly, synergizing these events, PRFP-16 organise its sessions based on the priority areas agreed in the Ministerial Declaration to support the development of telecommunications and ICT policies in the Pacific countries and provide an opportunity to share policy and regulatory trends, and enhance their capacity to address emerging opportunities and challenges.

The sessions of the PRFP-16 were organised on topics such as Digital Infrastructure, Digital Innovation, Security and Trust, Digital Capacity Building and Skills, and Disaster Management, which are also strategic pillars of the APT's Strategic Plan for 2021-2023.


PRFP-16 had a Roundtable for Ministers and Head of Regulators to share their recent policy and regulation issues and experiences. In addition, it also allocates time for a Business Dialogue to provide an opportunity for the ICT industry to share their insights and experiences and for ICT policymakers and regulators to discuss new challenges and opportunities for empowering the Digital Transformation.

ENDS.

Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications.