As the global wave of digital transformation accelerates, Papua New Guinea (PNG) has taken a strategically significant step forward.
On May 1, Secretary for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Steven Matainaho, announced that following the successful pilot of the “SevisPass” program in 2024, the government will now initiate a nationwide data integration effort. This marks the beginning of PNG’s first functional national digital ID system — the SevisPass Digital ID.
This initiative is not merely a technological upgrade; it represents a vital leap toward modernizing the country’s governance framework. The digital ID system will make it safer and more efficient for citizens to access both public and private services while injecting new momentum into PNG’s digital government development.
In his announcement, Secretary Matainaho emphasized that the nationwide rollout will involve coordination among key stakeholders — including the Civil Registry, major banks, telecom companies, pension funds, and critical industry players — to jointly build the country’s digital identity infrastructure. He highlighted the following core objectives:
Enable secure and user-authorized electronic identity verification (eKYC) for use across both public and private sectors; Streamline processes such as bank account opening, SIM card registration, and government service access; Launch a Single Sign-On (SSO) mechanism for unified login across government digital platforms; Establish a biometric identity authentication system for the 2027 National Elections.
From mapping data sources and enabling secure, compliant data sharing, to testing cross-sector system interoperability and certifying ID service providers, this undertaking is complex yet critical.
“This national initiative is fully supported by the 2020 Digital Transformation Policy, the 2024 Data Governance and Protection Policy, and the forthcoming 2025 Digital Identity Policy,” Matainaho stated.
To further promote awareness and policy alignment, DICT will host nationwide workshops and public information sessions from May through June, aimed at educating data holders and key stakeholders on how the digital identity system works, the legal and regulatory framework behind it, and the tangible benefits it offers to both businesses and the general public.
Secretary Matainaho concluded with a powerful call to action:
“Papua New Guinea is steadily and unwaveringly moving toward a trusted and inclusive digital future. We need your support. Join us on this journey.”
His words echoed a nation’s awakening to its digital potential — and a steadfast strategic commitment. Digital identity is not just a cold technology; it is a manifestation of national governance capacity, a safeguard of social fairness and efficiency, and an extension of the people’s well-being.
The full-scale deployment of SevisPass signifies Papua New Guinea’s departure from paper-based and fragmented identity systems, and its bold step into a new era of secure, convenient, and efficient digital governance.
