FSM Information Services
Press Release
President Panuelo Establishes Office of Information Technology & Supporting Services under the Department of Transportation, Communication, & Infrastructure
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—After completing relevant and necessary tasks, on January 13th, 2020, His Excellency David W. Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) announced the establishment of an Office of Information Technology & Supporting Services under the Department of Transportation, Communication, & Infrastructure. The Office of Information Technology & Supporting Services will be able to, among other duties, better support the Nation’s implementation of the Digital-FSM Project, funded in large part by the World Bank.
Established via a November 22nd 2019 Presidential Order, the Office of Information Technology will consolidate and centralize IT support services throughout the FSM National Government, and develop IT policies and procedures to strengthen the Nation’s capacity in areas ranging from public information accessibility and record-keeping, to enhancing intragovernmental cooperation and data protection activities, and more. It is the intention of the FSM National Government to support the delivery of e-Government and e-Commerce activities as a means of both empowering citizens to participate in civil society, and as a means to encourage economic growth.
Arguably the most immediately visible result of the Presidential Order is the integration of IT staff presently assigned across the National Government’s line agencies into a centralized unit, as a means of fostering collaboration and eliminating repetition of various tasks.
“The transition will be gradual and each IT [staff] will continue to perform their duties at their respective department and/or office till the time that funding of this newly formed unit is fully secured,” President Panuelo said.
The FSM National Government has complete confidence that the Honorable Carlson D. Apis, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Communication, & Infrastructure, who is returning from his former duties as Ambassador of the FSM to the People’s Republic of China later this month, will endeavor to ensure a successful implementation of the Office of Information Technology & Supporting Services.
A copy of the President’s letter and the accompanying Presidential Order may be found here: gov.fm/files/PRESIDENTIAL_ORDER_Developing_Office_of_Information_Technology_Jan_13_2020.pdf
