Following a meeting with the General Manager of Alibaba Cloud for New Zealand & Australia, the Secretary of the Department of Information & Communications Technology, Steven Matainaho has advised that the department is excited to explore a potential of partnering with the Alibaba Cloud that looks towards enhancing the efficiency and scope of government services. A meeting held between the Department and Alibaba Cloud recently focused on Alibaba’s potential to support the Government’s Digital Transformation agenda especially in the space of whole-of-government cloud solutions and digital payments. Pier Smulders, General Manager of Alibaba Cloud New Zealand and Australia, expressed the Cloud Giant’s strong interest in collaborating with the PNG government. “We are committed to supporting PNG’s digital transformation journey and believe our cloud services can help the country achieve its goals.” The Government of PNG intends to explore the potential of partnering with Alibaba Cloud to leverage on their expertise and experience in cloud computing which will play a significant role in advancing the country’s digital economy. Stephen Nukuitu, Deputy Secretary Operations of the Department of Finance who highlighted the potential for Alibaba Cloud’s solutions to revolutionize government payments and drive financial inclusion in PNG. “Alibaba Cloud’s offerings have the potential to transform how the PNG government makes and receives payments,” “This could have a significant impact on the efficiency and transparency of government spending,” Mr Nukuitu said. This strategic dialogue followed the public release of a series of Requests for Information (RFIs) on various components of the Government Technology Stack. The next round of discussions between the PNG government and Alibaba Cloud will focus on the technical aspects of Alibaba Cloud’s services and how they align with the PNG government’s key priorities. The aim is to establish a long-term partnership roadmap that will foster mutual growth and technological advancement.