Workshop Kicks Off Fiji’s National ID Effort

A workshop on Fiji’s National ID Program was held in Suva last week, marking the commencement of a significant initiative aimed at advancing the country’s digital economy. The program is a collaborative effort between the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF), the Fijian Government, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It seeks to establish a robust electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) process to empower citizens and improve financial inclusion.

Shaheen Ali, the Permanent Secretary for Trade, emphasized the government’s commitment to creating a secure and scalable national database that supports accurate and inclusive identification processes. ADB’s Regional Director for the Pacific Subregional Office, Aaron Batten, highlighted that the National Digital ID and e-KYC align with the ADB’s Fiji country partnership strategy for 2024-2028.

RBF Governor Ariff Ali underscored the importance of a National Digital ID system in today’s interconnected world. He likened the National ID to a key that opens doors, enabling citizens to access essential services such as healthcare, education, and banking more efficiently.

“We believe that a robust National Digital ID system will empower citizens by improving access to basic services and fostering economic growth,” Ali said.

The project is expected to take at least 36 months to complete. A steering committee co-chaired by Deputy Prime Ministers Manoa Kamikamica and Professor Biman Prasad, along with Governor Ali, has been established to lead the initiative.

The Fijian government announced plans for its national digital ID program back in June of this year. A “national ID card steering committee” was established to manage the program’s governance, legal, and policy frameworks.

The initiative is part of Fiji’s broader National Digital Strategy, led by the Ministry of Communications in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The strategy will use GovStack, an open-source digital government platform designed to accelerate public service transformation.

Source: The Fiji Times

–

October 7, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis