JAPAN-PACIFIC ICT CENTER

Tuesday 6th July 2010, H.E. Mr. Yutaka Yoshizawa, Ambassador of Japan to Fiji officially opened the newest, modern and great Information and Communication Technology Centre funded by Government of Japan at the University of the South Pacific (USP).

The Government of Japan donated JP\ 2.2 billion (approx. F$45 million) for the Phase I works which included constructions of two buildings with facilities consisting of computer laboratories, conference rooms and specialized equipment.

Japan's assistance followed a request from the Government of the Republic of the Fiji Islands on behalf of the twelve USP member countries and region in 1999.

Following a survey conducted by Japanese study team in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009 the Government of Japan decided to provide the grant aid under its bilateral development assistance program to USP member countries. This grant aid was in line with Japan's objective to provide sustainable and constructive support for the development of projects that contribute to the improvement of the distance and flexible learning in the region and promote socio-economic development.

The Vice Chancellor of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra said the following during the opening of the ICT Center; "The Government of Japan has a longstanding relationship with USP, and historically the University has benefited greatly from the support of the Government of Japan and its people".

Facilities
The centre provides office space for ICT staff at USP (IT Service. Maths, Computing Sciences, Information Systems and Engineering), Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team or "PacCERT", Pacific Regional Resource Centre (PRRC), and Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA). It is also provide ICT ‘incubator' spaces for ICT entrepreneurs to start their ICT business at the center. This is for industry use in collaboration with USP. Some possible entrepreneurship areas would be Mobile Telecommunications, Software Development, e-health, e-business, e-government and e-immigration etc. Once the business matures, the entrepreneurs can move on and continue their ICT business in the region.

The Centre is equipped with 260 computers, 20 high end servers; equipment for ICT related engineering courses and cutting edge ICT equipment for video and audio conference.