Fiji needs to invest in developing its own digital workforce to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and networking specialists, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Commerce Manoa Kamikamica says.

Speaking at the opening of the USP Digital Skills Hub, Kamikamica said Fiji’s digital readiness stood at 48 per cent, highlighting the need to equip more people with the skills and confidence to use digital technologies.

He said while more than 85 per cent of Fijians use the internet, access to connectivity alone would not be enough to achieve the country’s digital transformation goals.

“We have built a road. Now, we must make Fiji learn to drive on it,” Kamikamica said.

The hub, established through a partnership between the University of the South Pacific, Cisco and Telecom Fiji, will focus on artificial intelligence, networking and cybersecurity.

Kamikamica said the skills gap was becoming increasingly important as Fiji strengthened its position as a regional digital hub, supported by submarine cable connectivity and investment in digital infrastructure.

He said the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals had grown to about 4.7 million, creating opportunities for countries such as Fiji to develop skilled workers who could compete internationally.

However, he warned that Fiji also faced the challenge of retaining trained professionals, with overseas employers able to offer more competitive salaries.

“If we do not grow our own, we will not keep our own,” he said.

Kamikamica said cybersecurity skills were also essential to protecting government networks, banks, hospitals, utilities and businesses as cybercrime and scams became more sophisticated.

He pointed to the growing use of artificial intelligence to create deepfakes and facilitate online fraud, warning that Fiji needed to strengthen public awareness, standards and technical expertise alongside its digital infrastructure.

Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Peter Roberts said the hub would help build the skilled workforce needed to support Fiji’s digital economy and the wider Pacific.

Roberts said Australia was committed to supporting Fiji’s development as a regional digital leader, including through a $28 million commitment under its Vuvale partnership to support Fiji’s digital economy ambitions.

Cisco Managing Director for New Zealand and the Pacific Jessica McFadden said the hub would provide students and the wider community with practical experience using modern networking and cybersecurity technologies.

She said Cisco’s Network Academy had supported more than 95,000 students in Fiji since its establishment, with the new facility providing pathways towards industry-recognised certifications.

Telecom Fiji Chief Commercial Officer Jyotika Devi said the country’s digital progress should be measured not only by the availability of technology but also by how effectively people could use it to improve their lives.

She said developing local expertise would help Pacific students and entrepreneurs access opportunities beyond their geographical boundaries, while ensuring that digital transformation did not deepen existing inequalities.

The hub is expected to support the development of digital skills across Fiji and the Pacific, helping prepare students for emerging employment opportunities in the technology sector.