The Minister for Policing and Communications, Hon. Ioane Naivalurua, delivered a powerful and deeply resonant statement at the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25) High-Level Dialogue for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)—addressing leaders from nations that share some of the world’s most complex development challenges.
The Minister opened by extending warm greetings from the Government and people of Fiji. He reminded delegates that LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS are bound not only by shared vulnerabilities, but by shared ambition and an unwavering determination to secure a stronger digital future for their people.
Minister Naivalurua highlighted that while developing countries face unique vulnerabilities including high connectivity and infrastructure costs, small and dispersed populations, and heightened exposure to disasters—they are also among the most innovative and committed to digital transformation. For Fiji and other SIDS, he stressed, digital access is not a luxury—it is tied to survival, security, and sovereignty.
He outlined Fiji’s national efforts under the National Development Plan and National Digital and Cybersecurity Strategies, from expanding connectivity to remote islands and improving digital literacy, to modernising data protection laws and strengthening cybersecurity in line with global standards. Yet, the Minister noted that significant gaps remain: women, youth, and maritime communities continue to face disproportionate exclusion, and climate change is widening these divides at an alarming pace.
In his address, the Minister underscored the collective strength and shared priorities of LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS, calling for a united front in shaping a fairer digital future. He urged countries to work together to strengthen global commitments and ensuring regional voices—particularly from the Pacific—guide global digital cooperation. The Minister further called for scaled investment in climate-resilient digital infrastructure, highlighting the success of initiatives such as the Smart Islands Programme.