Minister signs MOUs with tech-forward nations
13 Jul 2026
The Bahamas is set to deepen its digital transformation agenda through new technical partnerships with two of the world’s leading digital governments, after Minister of Innovation and National Development Sebas Bastian secured agreements in principle during a working visit to Geneva, the Ministry of Innovation and National Development said in a statement released yesterday.
Bastian, who led a Bahamian delegation to the first United Nations-mandated Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance and the AI for Good Global Summit, said the government expects to sign memoranda of understanding with Estonia and Singapore in the coming weeks to accelerate the country’s digital modernization efforts.
The proposed agreements will focus on digital government, digital identity, government digital services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance and legislation, and public service capacity building.
“We did not go to Geneva for photographs. We went to build the partnerships that will deliver for the Bahamian people,” Bastian said.
“Estonia and Singapore did not become world leaders in digital government by accident. They made deliberate choices, and now their ministers have opened their playbooks to The Bahamas.”
He added: “In the coming weeks, we expect to sign technical cooperation agreements that will accelerate the delivery of digital identity, modern government services, and a safer, smarter digital Bahamas. We are not starting from scratch, we are starting from the best.”
Bastian held bilateral meetings with Estonia’s Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta and Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo.
According to the ministry, Estonia has digitized 99 percent of its government services, while Singapore’s Smart Nation program is regarded as one of the world’s leading examples of public sector innovation.
The government said the partnerships are intended to provide The Bahamas with direct access to implementation experience, as it advances its National Digital Identity Program and expands connected government services.
Beyond the two proposed agreements, Bastian also met with government representatives from Rwanda and the United Kingdom, along with officials from Smart Africa, to discuss future collaboration and preparations for the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2026.
During the visit, Bastian also signed a host country agreement with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, confirming The Bahamas as host of the global forum, which is scheduled to take place in Nassau from September 2-4, 2026.
The Ministry of Innovation and National Development said it will establish technical working groups with partner governments, finalize the cooperation agreements and begin follow-up work to ensure the partnerships produce measurable results.
“Every meeting in Geneva was a step toward one goal: a government that works at the speed of its people,” Bastian said.