Foreword I have the pleasure to present to you this National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy. This Policy expresses a firm commitment of the Government to maximise the contribution, efficiency and effectiveness of information and communication technologies in achieving the National Vision of “A Just, Educated, Healthy and Wealthy Vanuatu”, thereby empowering and benefiting every citizen and resident of Vanuatu. This Government’s commitment will first of all be expressed through actions in a number of priority areas. Access to ICTs in schools in particular, and also for Vanuatu citizens and residents in general, will be radically expanded. ICTs will transform government services and public administration, as well as supercharge advance in all areas related to the socio-economic develop- Hon. Moana Carcasses Katokai Kalosil, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu Access to ICTs in schools in particular, and also for Vanuatu citizens and residents in general, will be radically expanded. ICTs will transform government services and public administration, as well as supercharge advance in all areas related to the socio-economic development” ment of the country. Importantly, the Policy also recognises risks and downsides of the increased utilisation of and dependence on ICTs and provides an impetus for their mitigation, especially through empowerment of users of respective tools and services. Furthermore, the Policy will enhance relevance of ICTs for the Vanuatu population by promoting availability of locally relevant content, as well as our ability to develop and utilise ICTs through capacity building programmes. Finally, the Policy unleashes creative collaboration and action of various public and private entities, academia, civil society and the public in general by setting up a platform for multi-stakeholder and multi-sector coordination and collaboration. This will ensure that the development kick-started by this Policy will extend much further than the Government’s actions alone could reach. Furthermore, this will significantly increase the value, effectiveness and efficiency of initiatives of Foreword 5