The Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa has appealed for meaningful connectivity across Samoa, and barriers to be broken to address the digital divide that exists within the society.

In her opening remarks at the Samoa Information Technology Association (S.I.F.A.) Tech Expo 2023 on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said this requires a multi-faceted approach that combines infrastructure development, digital literacy programs and affordable access to technology.

"To achieve meaningful connectivity, we must address the digital divide that exists within our society," Fiamē said. "We must bridge the gap between urban and rural areas, between the young and the elderly, between the able and disabled (tulou) our communities and between different socioeconomic backgrounds.

"Investing in digital infrastructure is crucial. We must work towards providing reliable and affordable internet connectivity to even the most remote areas of Samoa. I was told that we will activate the Universal Access Funds which I hope will give us nationwide mobile broadband coverage and meaningful internet. We are progressing with building a smart island initiative in Samoa."

Speaking at the conference that included local and international experts in the field, Fiamē said she believes this will open up a world of possibilities, enabling access to information, education, healthcare services, postal services and e-commerce opportunities.

"However, critical infrastructure alone is not enough. We must equip our people with the necessary skills to navigate the digital landscape. Digital literacy programs should be developed and implemented at all levels of education. We should also create a pool of ICT Experts to deal with all our ICT Issues as I have seen done by SITA," she added.

"Furthermore, we should create spaces where startups and tech entrepreneurs can thrive, providing them with the necessary support, mentorship and resources. By nurturing a culture of innovation, we can unlock the potential of our youth, who are the driving force behind our future."

The expo event is hosted by S.I.T.A and is powered by Vodafone under the theme of “Meaningful Connectivity for an Inclusive Digital Samoa”. 

One of the mandates of SITA is to develop and provide lectures, meetings, and conferences and to promote research in information processing and computer technology. This event helps achieve that mandate and is considered the premier technology event for the country as it brings together a diverse range of experts from government, private sector and the community especially people living with disabilities to showcase the latest technology and its application for Samoa. 

Since the last EXPO in October 2022, there has been a global explosion of applications and interest in digital services. Over the next two days, other topics that the public has expressed interest to learn and understand include cyber security, online payments, online learning, Samoa National ID, ethics and privacy in a connected world, virtual reality, drone technology and many more. The event is delivered in a hybrid format, face-to-face but there will also be experts joining from around the world.

"Today we also showcase the digital transformation movement that hybrid, edge and Artificial Intelligence powered to drive us towards a more connected and inclusive Samoa," added Fiamē.

"The world around us is evolving so we have to evolve and get involved to harness the potential of technology to bridge the gaps that divide us and unlock new opportunities.

"Meaningful connectivity is not solely about providing internet access to every corner of our islands. It is about building a digital ecosystem that fosters innovation, education and economic growth. As we are here today, we acknowledge and applaud some individuals, businesses and communities that have leveraged technology to their advancement."

Fiamē urged the gathering to strive for a connected Samoa where every citizen, regardless of their background or circumstance, can benefit and thrive.

She also congratulated and thanked S.I.T.A for its vision and foresight in providing this hybrid platform to showcase the latest technologies available in Samoa, the progress of digital transformation in different disciplines and engage our renowned speakers to share their insights. 

"I urge your executive to work together with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in partnership to improve our digital transformation journey so that the people in our communities, rural areas will get the same service we are getting in the urban areas," she said.

"Thank you and may this SITA Tech Expo powered by Vodafone be a stepping stone towards a brighter future to bridge the digital gap and connect the unconnected in a cyber safety Samoa inclusively. I now like to officially Open the SITA Tech Expo 2023"