Fiji is lagging behind the region in development of information and communications technology.
The Fiji Sun quotes the Commerce Commission chairman Dr Mahendra Reddy, as saying in terms of internet penetration, Fiji has a rate of 10.9 percent as at this time last year.
He says Australia and New Zealand has 80.1 per cent and 79.7 percent respectively.
And Dr Reddy says Fiji is behind the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Tokelau and Tuvalu.
Dr Reddy says the state has a very important role to play in providing independent financing as well as providing a regulatory framework.
He says Fiji is a leader amongst the small states in ICT development and will remain a leader as long as investment in the sector is made on an annual basis.
