By DALCY LULUA
National Information and Communication Authority (NICTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Papua New Guinea Customs Service (PNGCS).
This demonstrate the commitment both agencies have to ensure the effective execution of their respective functions to allow for the flow of trade in the ICT Sector.
This MoU follows a review of an existing collaborative arrangement which began in 2012 between NICTA and PNGCS.
This demonstrate the commitment both agencies have to ensure the effective execution of their respective functions to allow for the flow of trade in the ICT Sector.
This MoU follows a review of an existing collaborative arrangement which began in 2012 between NICTA and PNGCS.
The MoU empowers the enforcement of NICTA’s Type Approval Compliance function by PNGCS in respect of all ICT equipment being imported into the country.
NICTA Chief Executive Officer Kila Gulo-Vui said it is important NICTA and PNGCS work to control import of these fake Information Communication Technologies equipment as they can also contribute to cyber-attack and other material risks to consumers.
NICTA Chief Executive Officer Kila Gulo-Vui said it is important NICTA and PNGCS work to control import of these fake Information Communication Technologies equipment as they can also contribute to cyber-attack and other material risks to consumers.
NICTA and PNGCS agree and recognize that this MoU will address and strengthen the response to the following matters and issues:
a) The level of assistance to be provided by PNGCS when administering the PNG borders for ICT regulatory purpos
b) Ensuring entry of type-approved genuine ICT equipment into the PNG marketplace
b) Ensuring entry of type-approved genuine ICT equipment into the PNG marketplace
c) Ensuring NICTA licensed radio dealers have appropriate authority when they import ICT equipmen
d) Regulating ICT goods (equipment) so that imports do not cause interference, or harm to public telecommunication networks and are safe for users, and that imported equipment does not pose a material risk to the health of PNG consumers and citizen
e) Taking necessary action to prevent important ICT products that do not comply with the requirements set out in the relevant legislation and regulations
f) Measuring the benefit and consumption of the various ICT services in PNG using imported ICT goods (equipment) especially the impact on the flow of goods on the livelihood of the citizens and its valueg)
g) Statistics on ICT goods imported to be used by NICTA for supply and demand projections, the licensees and potential entrants for market assessments, and the various state agencies responsible for planning and monitoring etc.; and
h) Impact Assessment of ICT Trade etc.
PNGCS Chief Commissioner David Towe raised concerns that a lot of people don’t understand that a product is counterfeit or not and complains that PNG Customs are not doing their job.
“For us to our jobs, the company owners must register your right over that particular product, the owner of these trade mark and the brand name must register with Investment Promotion Authority under the Intellectual Property Office.
“Once done, they have to go and record with us, once they record with us they give the permission to either check the imported products.”
“Without giving us the reason to intervene we cannot intervene to see whether it’s fake or counterfeit, you have to give us the permission to intervene when a particular product carrying these logo or brand name as this is important,” he added.
“Without giving us the reason to intervene we cannot intervene to see whether it’s fake or counterfeit, you have to give us the permission to intervene when a particular product carrying these logo or brand name as this is important,” he added.
The signing of the MoU also marks an important milestone for NICTA with the automatization its Equipment/Apparatus Type Approval process from the traditional manual listing and vetting process so that checks and approval are done online with less international customers.
This is in line with the PNG Single e-Window initiative by the National Trade and Facilitation Committee (NTFC)
