Koror, Palau – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is promoting American technology to strengthen digital security and advance Tonga’s digital transformation. USTDA signed an agreement today with the Government of Tonga for a feasibility study to modernize the country’s government data center and network infrastructure. The study will develop options for secure, resilient hosting of critical government systems and services using trusted U.S. technology.
“When it comes to securing critical infrastructure, U.S. technology provides the quality, transparency, and accountability that our competitors cannot match,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Deputy Director. “This partnership will ensure critical government systems are protected from malign actors and position Tonga as a regional leader in digital governance across the Pacific Islands.”
Tonga’s Digital Transformation Department has selected New York-based CyberCX USA Inc. to conduct the technical analysis needed for financing and implementing the data center. The project will provide the secure foundation Tonga needs to strengthen whole-of-government cybersecurity, support disaster recovery, expand digital public services, and enable the future deployment of AI-powered applications.
The study is part of a coordinated United States response to advance Tonga’s digital resilience and promote secure digital infrastructure across the Pacific region. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy is also providing ongoing support to migrate critical Tongan government data assets to trusted cloud infrastructure.
“This partnership strengthens Tonga’s digital resilience and ensures our people can rely on secure, trusted systems as we expand digital services across government,” said Sione Pulotu ‘Akau’ola, Chief Executive Officer of Tonga’s Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.
“The United States is proud to support Tonga’s digital transformation, guided by the mutual trust that defines our partnership,” said Devon L. Brown, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., U.S. Embassy Nuku’alofa. “Technology can unlock rapid economic growth, but as it reshapes society, relying on trusted partners is more important than ever.”
###
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is the U.S. government’s first mover on critical infrastructure development in emerging markets, advancing the shared strategic priorities of the United States and our overseas partners while creating opportunities to deploy trusted U.S. solutions. USTDA funds the upfront technical work that accelerates the development of infrastructure projects, helping them attract the financing they need for implementation and procurement of U.S. goods and services.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: press@ustda.gov