PORT VILA. Vanuatu has called for Pacific cultural and traditional knowledge to be protected from use in artificial intelligence systems without free, prior and informed consent, and has urged that this safeguard be made an enforceable requirement rather than a voluntary principle.

The call came as Vanuatu delivered its country statement to the Forum ICT Ministers Meeting in Port Moresby, reporting progress across all six priorities of the Pacific ICT and Digital Transformation Action Plan (PIDTAP) 2024 to 2030.

Vanuatu was represented by Special Envoy on ICT, Hon Fred Samuel, Member of Parliament for Efate Rural Constituency, speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister responsible for Communications and Digital Transformation.

Reflecting on the earthquake that struck Vanuatu in late 2024, Hon. MP Samuel told Ministers the event had permanently changed how Vanuatu country views connectivity.

"When digital connectivity is disrupted, the impacts of a crisis are magnified," he said. "Digital infrastructure is no longer simply a development priority. It is critical national infrastructure and an essential component of resilience."

Vanuatu urged that digital infrastructure must receive the same strategic attention and investment as transport, energy and water, particularly for countries facing among the world's highest levels of climate and disaster risk.

Vanuatu reported that its National ID programme has reached more than 97 per cent of the population, providing a foundation for public service delivery, development planning and disaster response. Mobile penetration has reached 96.13 per cent of the population, while prepaid data prices fell 7 per cent over the past year. This was described as evidence that expanding access and improving affordability can advance together.

Guided by its Digital Transformation Masterplan and the Digital Transformation Act No. 42 of 2025, Vanuatu is committed to digitise all government business processes and deliver key public services online by 2030. Vanuatu continues to seek support from stakeholders and partners in advancing this work.

On infrastructure, the TamTam Submarine Cable Project will end Vanuatu's reliance on a single international cable, adding a second connection through New Caledonia and incorporating SMART cable technology that contributes to seismic monitoring and early warning.

Mr Samuel also highlighted the Smart Island Programme in Malekula, delivered with the International Telecommunication Union, which has trained more than two thousand people in digital literacy and supported Vanuatu's first infrastructure sharing tower. He further pointed to the Economic Micro Hub in Emua Village, which brings connectivity, digital payments and government services closer to rural communities.

Beyond its country statement, Vanuatu advanced positions across the day's main agenda items.

On Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ministers adopted the Digital Technologies and AI Principles for the Pacific, a unified regional framework for ethical AI adoption that will be progressed to Forum Leaders. Vanuatu supported the Principles while calling for the safeguard in protecting Pacific cultural and traditional knowledge to be made an enforceable requirement in the AI Governance Framework now to be developed. Vanuatu is currently procuring the development of its National AI Strategy, and asked that regional technical assistance complement, rather than duplicate, national work already underway.

On online safety, Vanuatu backed a phased regional approach to addressing the harms of social media platforms, particularly on children, youth, women and the elderly. Vanuatu joined calls for greater accountability from global technology companies and for regional cooperation on technology facilitated gender-based violence. Vanuatu asked that any future measures, including age restrictions, be paired with digital literacy and reporting support, noting that for dispersed island communities these platforms remain a vital means of maintaining family and community connection.

On regional governance and cooperation, Vanuatu supported work to strengthen the Forum's ICT governance arrangements and a new regional framework for monitoring progress under PIDTAP. It urged that reporting requirements remain realistic and proportionate for small administrations. Throughout the day, Vanuatu pressed for the particular capacity constraints of Smaller Island States to be reflected directly within regional frameworks, and for stronger cybersecurity cooperation, noting that no Pacific country can address evolving cyber threats alone.

Vanuatu also welcomed strengthened engagement by the International Telecommunication Union in the region, including the proposal for an ITU Area Office in the Pacific.

The Ministers Meeting formed part of a wider Digital Transformation Summit in Port Moresby, running alongside Pacific Cyber Week and the Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network (PaCSON). Vanuatu participated in these parallel events, which brought together regional governments, development partners and industry to strengthen cyber resilience, digital public infrastructure and operational threat sharing across the Pacific. Related activities include a Subregional CyberDrill, co-organised by the International Telecommunication Union and PaCSON, connecting national Computer Incident Response Teams from across the region.

"Our progress will not be measured by the number of systems deployed or the kilometres of cable installed," Hon.MP Samuel said. "It will be measured by whether a citizen in one of our most remote island communities can confidently access government services, participate in digital commerce and receive timely information. Vanuatu remains committed to a digital Pacific where no community is left behind."

On Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ministers adopted the Digital Technologies and AI Principles for the Pacific, a unified regional framework for ethical AI adoption that will be progressed to Forum Leaders. Vanuatu supported the Principles while calling for the safeguard in protecting Pacific cultural and traditional knowledge to be made an enforceable requirement in the AI Governance Framework now to be developed. Vanuatu is currently procuring the development of its National AI Strategy, and asked that regional technical assistance complement, rather than duplicate, national work already underway.

On online safety, Vanuatu backed a phased regional approach to addressing the harms of social media platforms, particularly on children, youth, women and the elderly. Vanuatu joined calls for greater accountability from global technology companies and for regional cooperation on technology facilitated gender-based violence. Vanuatu asked that any future measures, including age restrictions, be paired with digital literacy and reporting support, noting that for dispersed island communities these platforms remain a vital means of maintaining family and community connection.

On regional governance and cooperation, Vanuatu supported work to strengthen the Forum's ICT governance arrangements and a new regional framework for monitoring progress under PIDTAP. It urged that reporting requirements remain realistic and proportionate for small administrations. Throughout the day, Vanuatu pressed for the particular capacity constraints of Smaller Island States to be reflected directly within regional frameworks, and for stronger cybersecurity cooperation, noting that no Pacific country can address evolving cyber threats alone.

Vanuatu also welcomed strengthened engagement by the International Telecommunication Union in the region, including the proposal for an ITU Area Office in the Pacific.

The Ministers Meeting formed part of a wider Digital Transformation Summit in Port Moresby, running alongside Pacific Cyber Week and the Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network (PaCSON). Vanuatu participated in these parallel events, which brought together regional governments, development partners and industry to strengthen cyber resilience, digital public infrastructure and operational threat sharing across the Pacific. Related activities include a Subregional CyberDrill, co-organised by the International Telecommunication Union and PaCSON, connecting national Computer Incident Response Teams from across the region.

"Our progress will not be measured by the number of systems deployed or the kilometres of cable installed," Hon.MP Samuel said. "It will be measured by whether a citizen in one of our most remote island communities can confidently access government services, participate in digital commerce and receive timely information. Vanuatu remains committed to a digital Pacific where no community is left behind."