A NATIONAL cybersecurity strategy that sets out Fiji’s vision for a cyber safe, secure and resilient nation will be released this year, said Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, MSMEs and Communications Manoa Kamikamica.
Speaking in Suva last week during the one year celebration of the signing of the memorandum of understating (MOU) on cyber collaboration between Fiji and Australia under the bilateral Vuvale Framework, Mr Kamikamica said a public consultation around the country will precede the release on the policy, which has yet to materialize despite considerable progress made towards digital economy and trade.
“It will detail our policies that will enable our nation to navigate cybersecurity in the digital age, now and into the future,” Mr Kamikamica said.
“Fiji has been fortunate to learn from Australia about its experiences in implementing its own 2023 Strategy.
“I thank Ambassador Dowling (Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology Brendan Dowling) particularly for embedding a member of your team within the Ministry of Communications to support our efforts.”
Mr Kamikamica said Fiji and Australia were partnering to establish a Fiji CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) to function as Fiji’s digital first responder in the case of nationally significant incidents.
“Like the Australian Cybersecurity Center, Fiji’s critical sectors will be able to get help quickly from Fiji CERT when they experience a cyberattack,” he said.
Fiji, he added, has supported both regional and international initiatives on cybersecurity along with Australia.
“Fiji and Australia have contributed to the development of the Laqatoi Declaration, a Pacific Ministers’ Strategic Plan which is to be endorsed at the next Pacific ICT meeting at PIFS (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat) this August.
“At the global level, we have partnered on the UN Open Ended Working Group or UNOEWG on the security and use of ICT to shape international rules and norms on peace and security in cyberspace.
“Fiji and Australia developed a PIFS statement delivered to the UNOEWG last year.
“This demonstrated regional solidarity that international law applies in the digital as well as the physical world.”
Mr Kamikamica said Fiji had also acceded to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and hoped “that we can partner with Australia to continue to prevent and combat cybercrime.”
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated April 21, 2025
