FINANCE & BSP TO IMPROVE DIGITAL PAYMENTS

By Ricky ISRAEL

FINANCE Secretary for Finance, Mr. Samuel Penias, says Papua New Guinea is taking a big step forward in digital payments for government services.

Mr. Penias spoke at the signing of a new agreement between the Department of Finance and BSP Financial Group today. The agreement aims to make government payments faster, safer, and more transparent by using electronic funds transfer, or EFT.

He said this will help bring better services to people in provinces and districts, especially in rural areas. Mr. Penias explained that using digital payments will cut down on delays, stop fraud, and help the government save money.

Most government payments are already done electronically at the national level. Now, the goal is to expand this system to the provinces and districts, where many people still rely on cash or cheques.

The Chief Operating Officer of BSP, Ms. Nuni Kulu, also spoke at the event. She said the bank is proud to support this change and help modernise the country’s financial system.

Both leaders agreed that this is not just a technology change, but a way to build trust and improve public service delivery in Papua New Guinea.