A SOCIETY of information technology professionals was launched at Heritage Park yesterday.

The society, called the IT Society Solomon Islands (ITSSI)   is a set-up for local professionals to look after their interests and development of the profession and industry.

In his keynote address, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare praised the IT professionals for their effort to come up with the remarkable initiative.

The PM assures them that his DCC Government will work with them to achieve their objectives.

Besides that, PM Sogovare said most Government ministries operate in silos isolated over the entire Government machinery which have collected data, software and hardware.

He said Solomon Islands needs improvement of IT standard.

The IT Society, PM Sogovare said, has a pivotal role in establishing standards that could upgrade our system to cope with 21st century technological advances.

On the other side, PM Sogovare said IT forms the basis for growth.

“For instance, some Government initiatives, e-passports, tele-medicine, births and death registry, that requires sounding knowledge in IT,” PM Sogovare said.

On that note, PM Sogovare urges the members of the society to begin conversation and Government will provide an avenue to channel their views that allows policy to meet the aims and desire of people.

At the moment, PM Sogovare said they have draft policy in place but the Government is of the view that before it is adopted it needs to be viewed by Solomon Islanders.

However, the ruling Government said they have an excellent opportunity to achieve that objective now if organisations pool their resources together.

Moreover, PM Sogovare said National Security, social order and effective governance would be among many of the issues that top the Government’s list of issues that they must be comfortable with in the policy.