Several ministries and government organizations launched or updated their websites on the occasion of the first national e-transactions conference titled “Toward Tangible e-Government” opened by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah here last night.
The conference, in which more than 60 national and international speakers are participating, is intended to pave the way for e-government in an integrated environment through the e-government national portal named Yesser. This will enable citizens and expatriates to download data from the Internet.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced that companies wishing to apply for commercial registration may do so electronically by downloading the application form. This will greatly reduce the time spent on bureaucratic procedures. A number of Saudi and international companies as well as government organizations are taking part in an e-exhibition being held on the sidelines of the conference which ends Wednesday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Electronic Portal Department in the Information and Studies Center, won laurels when its website obtained the Digital Distinction Award. It gained first place in the branch of e-government transactions for 2006 as the best e-government portal for a government establishment. The ministry’s e-portal won the award from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) for the second year in succession. MCIT also announced that it would declare the winners of awards tomorrow at the Riyadh Inter-Continental Hotel. While the Foreign Ministry’s website is up-to-date and rich in content, other government websites leave much to be desired.
The Saudi government has allocated three billion Saudi riyals for implementing the first phase of e-government project, a senior government official said.
Chief of Intelligence Prince Miqren bin Abdul Aziz said Saudi Arabia has prepared a national strategy for communication and information technology while chairing the first session of the National e-transaction Conference which was opened in Riyadh on Sunday.
In a related development, Saudi Arabia is working on a law for e-crimes.
This was announced by the Saudi Communications and Information Technology (CIT) minister Mohammad Jamil Mullah.
The law is in its final stages, the minister added in statements on Sunday after opening the first national e-transactions conference on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.
The minister also launched four projects for e-transactions intended to pave the way for e-government in Saudi Arabia.
The minister pointed out that 74 per cent of homes in Saudi Arabia are having landline telephone service and 34 per cent of homes have computers.
Finance Minister Ebrahim Al Assaf said that his ministry is working to launch an e-procurement portal for government purchases, adding that coordination is underway with some government agencies to have fees paid online.
The governor of the Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Mohammad Al Suwayel noted that an e-government programme is to be initiated in cooperation between the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Finance and the Communication and Information Technology Commission.
Prince Muqrin, fourth from left, takes a round of the IT and electronic exhibition organized on the sidelines of the National e-Transactions Conference in Riyadh on Monday. (AN photo by Abdullah Ateeq)Prince Muqrin, chief of General Intelligence, said yesterday that the Kingdom, as part of its SR3 billion e-government initiative, would lay down a full-fledged foundation for the system well before the target year of 2010.
The initiative, dubbed Yesser (Arabic for “Simplify”), aims to make Saudi society more digitally literate and to streamline government bureaucracy.
“The next stage in the e-government implementation plan will be to launch a significant awareness campaign to encourage the general public to embrace e-governance, while explaining the key benefits to officials of the Saudi government agencies, businesses and society in general,” said Prince Muqrin.
He expressed optimism that the Kingdom’s e-government project will be “fully functional in 2010 or well before the stipulated timeframe.”
The prince made his remarks on the first day of the National e-Transactions Conference 2007, which was inaugurated Sunday evening at the InterContinental and has brought together keynote speakers from the Kingdom and abroad to discuss how technology can simplify procedures, from visa renewals to obtaining copies of deeds.
“There will be no need for a Saudi citizen or an expatriate to visit a government office from a 1,500-km far-flung area to expedite one or many government-related works,” said Prince Muqrin.
Attending on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Muhammad Jameel Mulla kicked off the conference late Sunday by saying that 150 electronic government services would be up and ready for public usage by 2010.
Also attending the inauguration was Communications and Information Technology Commission Gov. Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf, members of the Shoura Council, diplomats and officials. Malaysian Minister of Science Jamaluddin Jarjis was also present.
Referring to the need for immediate implementation of the e-governance system, Prince Muqrin said that e-government concept would enable transactions and services to be performed electronically, thus eliminating many barriers and obstacles.
Prince Muqrin noted that the digitalization of Saudi government agencies “will be largely based on how people accept or respond to the new system.”
He called on the Education Ministry to generate awareness among students about the e-system.
Speaking on his part, Al-Suwaiyel said: “The main aim of the government is to take full advantage of information and communication technologies to make the country a digital society.”
Al-Suwaiyel said the new initiative would assist students in enrolling in college. “All universities will apply an electronic system for accepting graduates,” he said. “Our sons and daughters will no longer have to queue in lines at the gates of universities to apply.”
The minister launched the e-government electronic service system, the e-government transactions network, consultancy center for information security, and the national gateway for electronic transactions. “King Abdullah has been encouraging the setup of this conference from the very beginning,” said Mulla, speaking to reporters after the event. “People attending the workshops are experts from inside and outside the Kingdom. We will exchange experiences.”
The minister said the Kingdom aimed at an easy access for government services to citizens and residents from their households.
He added that according to official statistics, 74 percent of households in the Kingdom had a computer. “This is a sign that the usage of electronic government services from households can be a promising thing,” he noted.
Mulla said that the Kingdom has taken the necessary precautions for security theft as well as hackers who could be a threat to the system. “Security theft as well as protection of the system from illegal entry or destruction is a vital matter that will be taken into consideration when the system is built,” he said. “Steps will be taken to protect illegal entry to the main frame that stores data.”
The electronic portal will also be able to identify accurate signatures in financial transactions and make sure that the applicant provides the necessary data before sending out any transaction from the government side, he added.
“Prices will be much lower than what it is now in 2010, especially when the infrastructure is complete,” said Mulla.
He noted that 50 percent of the Kingdom’s population, which is under 30, use computers on a daily basis, “would find their ambitions fulfilled.”
Al-Assaf said the e-transactions initiative was launched in 2005 and is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Communications and Information Technology Commission.
He said that this four-day cutting-edge event would provide an ideal platform to debate cohesive and practical strategies for the expansion of e-governance for the common good. The conference will also address a range of challenging issues faced by government agencies.
Strategy related topics would embrace e-participation, e-government, IT governance, risk and compliance management, business process management and resources capacity planning.
Al-Assaf said that his ministry had the responsibility of collecting financial dues from government bodies in electronic transactions in the e-government system.
“We are now working on a very important aspect which is the implementation of government purchasing electronically,” he told reporters. “Applications will be sent by government departments electronically and then processed electronically,” he said, adding that his ministry would soon implement this.
Another important mission for the Ministry of Finance is to collect dues from the various departments such as labor offices, passport departments, municipalities and others. “All of this will be done electronically and it will ease things on citizens and residents,” he noted.
Responding to a question from Arab News on the possibility of using credit cards for paying for electronic government services, he said: “This will be widely used in the future”.
Al-Assaf said his ministry is proud to be the first to introduce electronic transactions by preparing the annual budget electronically for over 30 years now.
Dubai eGovernment has recently signed an agreement with Dubai Municipality to impart eLearning courses to 100 municipality staff through the eLearn channel. The move is predicted to enhance and accelerate daily transactions between Dubai Municipality and local residents.
As per the agreement, Dubai eGovernment will provide eLearning and electronic training curriculum to the municipality staff via personal computers or hand-held devices. Dubai eGovernment will also provide special eServices to Dubai Municipality in the form of a dedicated learning website and will develop an electronic training curriculum for the courses.
Commenting on the agreement, Salem Al Shair, eServices Director, Dubai eGovernment said, “Dubai eGovernment is committed to providing solutions that will enable employees to acquire appropriate IT skills, thereby maximising the available technology to improve work performance and render prompt services to the general public.”
“I am delighted to sign this agreement with Dubai Municipality, as the electronic training courses will help to promote IT literacy and contribute to ushering in a digital society that will strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading economic hub,” Al Shair added.
“This is a great opportunity for Dubai Municipality to improve our position as a leading service provider by aligning with Dubai eGovernment to acquire tailored eLearning initiatives that will help our employees to provide enhanced and accelerated transactions for our customers. This agreement represents our continued dedication to investing in various operational solutions aimed at improving the quality, type and facilitation of our services,” said Humaid Saeed Al Marri, Director of Personnel Department, Dubai Municipality.
The eLearn channel is one of the innovative eServices that Dubai eGovernment provides for students, citizens, investors and the business and resident communities through its innovative portal, www.elearn.ae.
Launched with the objective of spreading awareness and developing people’s e-skills towards better usage of online services, the eLearn forum has conducted more than 3,000 interactive and cost effective online courses in various disciplines including technology and business. Dubai eGovernment has recently completed several government and non-government eLearn projects such as offering an eDiploma to the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in addition to creating Arabic and English content for Tejari, the Middle East’s business to business online marketplace.
The eLearn forum also conducts online and blended training programmes to improve e-literacy among employees of government departments and holds regular basic courses in email, internet and digital media aimed at increasing the level of awareness about, and usage of, Dubai Government’s eServices.
Website to help exchange of regional policy ideas |
By Zoi Constantine, Staff Reporter
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| Dubai: Aimed at empowering decision makers and promoting good governance in the Arab world, the Dubai School of Government is set to manage a region-wide e-government portal. Set up by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/ICTDAR) in 2005, the online portal will be jointly managed by Dubai School of Government (DSG) and UNDP before being fully handed over to DSG by 2010. "The agreement is part of a plan to enrich regional academic research on e-government and tackle e-governance barriers faced by Arab countries ... while facilitating the exchange of knowledge within governments, the private sector and academia," said Nabeel Ali Al Yousuf, DSG's Executive President. From March According to DSG, a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world, a version of the portal would be available from March but the official launch would coincide with a UN forum to be held in June. Members of the public would be able to access the portal, with specific areas accessible only to registered experts. The UNDP/ICTDAR Regional Coordinator, Najat Rouchdi, described the portal as "a valuable collaborative platform for governments in the region". "The portal is an example of how technology can be applied to promote sharing of information. There really is a thirst for an exchange of ideas out there, and this would facilitate that. "The main aim is to encourage a better decision making process, including methodologies and best practices," she said, adding that the entire portal would be in Arabic, to enable all governments across the Arab world to access the information. DSG research associate Fadi Salem described e-government as a "tool of public sector reform" that helps to create a more "dynamic government". "The concept enables less corruption because of a direct connection between the government and the public as well as the private sector. There are no middle men, so it increases transparency and decreases red tape," he explained. Describing Dubai as a leader in e-governance, Salem said it could serve as a "model" for others. Microsoft would also act as a partner during the transition period, building an upgraded version of the portal besides providing financial and technical support, training. |
The Dubai School of Government will take over the ownership of the Middle
East's egovernment sharing portal in 2010, after signing an MoU with the UN.
The Arab Sharing Portal was established in 2005 to promote egovernance.
DSG will own the portal jointly with the UN Development Programme for now, and
take full ownership in three years time.
‘Cabinet seeks implementation of e-government project countrywide’; Move to spike IT, communications sector: Al-Sherida
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| KUWAIT (KUNA): The Kuwaiti Cabinet is working on activating the road map of electronic government, said director general of Central Organization for Information Technology (COIT) Ali Al-Sherida on Monday. It will offer more material and moral support to the IT and communications sector, he said in the opening ceremony of the third Kuwait Exhibition of IT and Communications. The event is organized by Connection International Company in the exhibition center here. The COIT is formed under the Amiri Decree No 266 for 2006 and is tasked with laying out policies and plans for IT on the national level and supervising the e-government project, Al-Sherida said. It is also tasked with initiating the state electronic gateway and the Kuwait Information Network (KIN) as well as training the IT cadres.
The first stage of KIN aims to connect the government networks while the second stage will connect the private sector and individual ones to facilitate and accelerate the exchange of information, messages and documents efficiently and in privacy, Al-Sherida pointed out. He hailed the initiative of “Kuwaiti Information Citizen” being developed by the Regional Centre for Updating Information Programs in cooperation with the COIT. The initiative aims to train ordinary Kuwaitis and residents in Kuwait on using computers and the Internet. He also praised the Microsoft and Sesco programs to train Kuwaiti youth cadres on the IT-related jobs.
The third Kuwait Exhibition of IT and Communications offers a rare opportunity for decision makers and professionals to get acquainted with the latest developments in the IT and communications industries, said Connection International board chairman Mansour Al-Mussa. The ordinary visitors can also exchange views and information with professionals on networks, data bases, application of administrative and financial programs, he added. The four-day event, sponsored by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ismail Khudair Al-Shatti who is also Chairman of COIT, gathers several international IT companies. |
ntel Chairman Unveils Egypt’s First ‘Digital Village’ In a small city near the Nile River where cars compete with cattle and modern conveniences are scarce, Intel Corporation is using computers and wireless technology to help Oseem’s 200,000 residents tap into vast “knowledge resources” on the Internet in hopes of bettering their lives.
“Technology has expanded what is possible for the people of Oseem,” said Intel Chairman Craig Barrett. “Intel is committed to support Egypt’s leaders in accelerating access to technology so its people can get better health care, education and work skills.”
Working with Egypt’s government, business and education leaders, Intel installed a state-of-the-art WiMAX network to connect two public schools, a health care center on wheels, a municipal building and an e-government services kiosk. Intel also donated and installed computers in the mobile health center and PC labs at the two schools where students and teachers can regularly connect to the outside world for the first time.
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Mr Sultan Ali Lootah, Director of the IT Division at the Department of Economic Development
The Dubai Department of Economic Development (
DED) has unveiled nine new eServices on its website.
Specially created to boost efficiency of operation and enhance productivity, the new eServices will benefit potential investors seeking information to set up businesses in Dubai, owners of small and medium sized enterprises and public relations officers.
Informative and easy-to-use, the web services feature descriptive help text, Arabic/English support and a friendly layout and design. Internet users can instantly access the information without having to go through any registration process.
'With the launch of the new nine eServices, DED is highlighting its technology-driven initiatives that ensure added-value service to clients and empower Dubai's businesses with e-Commerce capabilities,' said Mr Sultan Ali Lootah, Director of the IT Division at DED.
'Apart from the directives of the eGovernment of Dubai, DED has always utilized the Internet to serve its customers better, ease business registration procedures and create an investor-friendly environment in Dubai. DED will continue to provide more tech-driven and value-added services to cope with the growth of businesses,' said Mr Sultan.
The eServices offered by DED include Transaction Status whereby customers can check the status of the transaction by using a transaction number, license number or initial approval number. Search Trade Names enables users to reserve trade names or find out if the desired name is already taken.
Company Lookup helps to search for existing companies operating in Dubai and gain information on their contact details and business activities. Number of Licenses per Person Report is also available whereby the number of licenses registered under one person's name can be known.
Through Business Set up Simulator, potential investors can get a rough estimate of setting up a new business in Dubai. License Renewal Cost Estimator allows existing companies to find out the cost of renewing their licenses. Activity Search procedure helps users to understand more about the activities that are classified by DED.
Information on current or future sales and promotions conducted by various business establishments in Dubai can be accessed through Sales and Promotions service. Reports on outstanding fines on any license can be checked through Fines for a License Report. To view outstanding fines, both the license number and the serial number of any of the partners or owners of the license have to be submitted on-line.
'DED is seeking to reduce the time spent by employees on handling customer enquiries and transactions by providing the services over Internet,' said Mr Sultan. 'This will enable the staff to handle other transactions and enhance their productivity.'
More online services will be available on the website in the next few months offering primarily GROs (Government Relationship Officers) and company owners the opportunity to handle transactions online. Six more releases are expected to be launched in the coming months.
E-Government Portal to Become Functional
Javid Hassan, Arab News |
| |
RIYADH, 14 January 2007 — In what is seen as a significant move, the Kingdom’s e-government national portal will become operational at the first national e-transaction conference. The conference will be opened at the King Fahd Cultural Center today by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Orainy, adviser to the minister of communications and information technology, and Ali S. Al-Soma, the minister’s adviser for IT and director general of the e-government program, said the e-government portal would allow both citizens and expatriates to access government information on the Internet. “It’s a major initiative for promoting transparency in government functioning and increasing productivity, efficiency and the speedy delivery of services to all people, including visitors,” Al-Soma said. He said that the e-government data center would be operational during the conference along with the e-government network. Some 50 local and 14 international speakers will share their experiences at the conference. The e-government initiative, known as Yesser (meaning simplify), seeks to promote integrated services to Internet users during the first phase. “By 2010 we should have at least 150 integrated portal services of world class,” Al-Soma said. He said e-government was chosen as the theme for the first conference since efficiency in the government sector is of great importance in the light of the Kingdom’s accession to the WTO and the need for greater transparency. Subsequent conferences will focus on such different themes as e-commerce, e-health, e-education, etc. An exhibition on e-services will be held on the sidelines of the conference and the venue will shift to the King Faisal Conference Hall. The conference will conclude on Jan. 17. Saudi Arabian Airlines, banks and a number of public and private-sector organizations will demonstrate the e-services they offer. Dr. Al-Orainy pointed out that the e-government initiative is part of King Abdullah’s vision to transform Saudi society into an information society. It is spearheaded as a multifaceted program involving the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC). Yesser will act as a facilitator for providing integrated e-government services involving all government agencies. Al-Soma said the e-government program would benefit immensely from the input provided by both national and international speakers. The first session, “The Strategic Continuum of e-Government” will be chaired by Prince Muqrin, head of general intelligence, who, as governor of Madinah, made important contributions to e-government in the holy city. Amr Abdullah Dabbagh, governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, will chair a session on public-private partnership. Dr. Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel, governor CITC, and Steven Mills, senior vice president of IBM, will be among the featured speakers. |
| |
Citizens, residents and visitors to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will now be able to benefit from an
efficient single point of online access to environmental services, announced the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) as it launched its eServices Portal.
In line with the vision and directives of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, of improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness in delivery of
government services and information, EAD initiated the project in coordination with the Abu
Dhabi Systems & Information Committee (ADSIC). The online portal aims to deliver convenient
and speedy services and information, as well as offer transactional services.
The portal will greatly benefit UAE Nationals, residents and tourists engaged in traditional,
commercial and recreational fishing activities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. From today onwards,
marine services which include traditional fishing licenses; weekly and annual recreational fishing
licenses; commercial fishing licenses; and 'Gargour' permits for commercial fishermen, research
vessel survey licenses, aquaculture licenses and artificial reefs, will all be processed online.
The portal will also allow the issuing of the Falcon Passport, which is a three year license for
UAE nationals and residents who wish to move legally-acquired falcons frequently across
international borders for personal use.
Information services such as environmental laws and regulations; technical documents;
announcements; protected areas; EAD events and publications will also be available online
through the portal.
'This portal will help fulfill the Abu Dhabi government's vision of expanding the system of
eGovernance by providing efficient, effective and economical services and information to its
customers, furthering the UAE's transformation into a knowledge-based society,' said H.E. Majid
Al Mansouri, Secretary General of EAD.
Mr. Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Chairman of ADSIC, praised the cooperation of EAD and said,
'This project is part of a far-reaching service transformation programme that transcends all government departments, authorities and administrations (government entities). This
programme strives to make Abu Dhabi Government more effective and efficient in delivering
modern services to its diverse customer base along a multitude of delivery channels, empowered
by optimal information technology (IT) solutions and aligned with today's e-transformation terms.
'
Ibrahim Mohamed Lari, Chief Executive Officer of Injazat Data Systems, which was
commissioned to build the online portal, said, 'This is only the first step in an exciting but critical
journey towards building the necessary platform from which EAD and its user community will
grow and prosper.'
Notes and Media Contacts
To provide an alternative to those with no access to the online portal, EAD has established a Customer Service
Office. This Office is located on the Ground floor of its Headquarters in Al Khaldyah area, Abu Dhabi and is
open to the public from Sunday - Thursday, 8 am - 2:30 pm.
The New EAD eServices Portal Currently Offers the Following Services:
* Research Vessel Survey License
This service allows the issuing of the license required before conducting any research, explorations or studies
involving the collection of samples in the fishing waters of the UAE.
* Aquaculture License
This service allows the issuing of a five-year renewable license for the establishment and investment on
commercial aquaculture farms.
* Artificial Reefs License
This service allows the issuing of the license that is required to establish or maintain an artificial coral reef in
any ground of the fishing waters of the UAE.
* Annual Recreational Fishing License
This service allows the issuing of an annual renewable license that allows the bearer to enjoy the sport of
shore-based fishing, using rod and reel or hand lines.
* Commercial Fishing License
This service allows the issuing of an annual renewable license that licenses its bearer to fish for profit.
Commercial fishing licenses are only available to UAE Nationals of Abu Dhabi who own registered commercial
fishing boats.
* Gargour Permit
This service allows commercial fishermen to use legally-tagged gargours when fishing in Abu Dhabi. Fishermen with licensed commercial lanshes are permitted to use gargour which must be fitted with an identifying tag issued by EAD and must conform to the regulations for gargour design established by EAD. The design regulations reduce by-catch and minimize ghost fishing thus reducing pressure on fish stocks in Abu Dhabi.
* Traditional Fishing License
This service allows the issuing of a renewable license which licenses its bearer, and his family, to practice traditional fishing with nets from recreational fishing boats in the waters of Abu Dhabi. Fish caught may only be used for personal consumption and must not be traded.
* Weekly Recreational Fishing License
This service allows the issuing of a seven day license that allows its bearer to enjoy the sport of shore-based fishing, using rod and reel or hand lines. This license is required for anyone aged 18 and above, wishing to fish from shore in Abu Dhabi.
* CITES Permit
This service allows anyone who wants to import or export endangered species for personal use or trade businesses purpose to do so legally. The CITES permit allows a single trade of an endangered species across international borders. When the trade has been completed, the original permit shall be returned to the Management Authority of the importing country.
* Falcon Passport
This service allows the issuing of the Falcon Passport which is a three year license for UAE nationals and residents who wish to move legally-acquired falcons frequently across international borders for personal use.
One falcon passport is issued for each bird for which movement is to be authorized.
MoL makes e-Signature Card must for companiesBy Ahmed Abdul Aziz
14 January 2007 ABU DHABI — Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi, the Minister for Labour, has made it mandatory for the companies to obtain the e-Signature Card (ESC) to facilitate dealings with the Ministry.
“According to the Minister’s instructions, all the big firms in the country have to apply for the new card which would ease dealings between the firms and the MoL,” said Sultan Al Bluoshi, Director of the Distinguished Firm Department at the MoL.
“We have a large number of companies who submitted their documents and got the ESC. The ministry calls on companies to obtain the ESC in order to help the Ministry fulfil the objective of e-governance,” added Al Bluoshi.
He said the MoL would not issue work permits to the company without this card.
Companies should provide the required documents to get the ESC. The documents required are — a copy of the passport of the sponsor or the authorised person of the company, a personal photo and Dh200 as application fee.
“The company can receive the ESC on the same day of applying to the MoL and if the companies’ directors or employers want to know more, they can visit our web site: http:// www.uaesmartform. gov.ae,” Al Bluoshi explained.
A PRO of Power International Company – based in Abu Dhabi – told Khaleej Times that the ESC will make it easy for the companies to deal with the MoL.
Ministries Launch Websites
Javid Hassan, Arab News |
| |
RIYADH, 15 January 2007 — Several ministries and government organizations launched or updated their websites on the occasion of the first national e-transactions conference titled “Toward Tangible e-Government” opened by Minister of Communication and Information Technology Muhammad Jameel Mulla here last night. The conference, in which more than 60 national and international speakers are participating, is intended to pave the way for e-government in an integrated environment through the e-government national portal named Yesser. This will enable citizens and expatriates to download data from the Internet. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced that companies wishing to apply for commercial registration may do so electronically by downloading the application form. This will greatly reduce the time spent on bureaucratic procedures. A number of Saudi and international companies as well as government organizations are taking part in an e-exhibition being held on the sidelines of the conference which ends Wednesday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Electronic Portal Department in the Information and Studies Center, won laurels when its website obtained the Digital Distinction Award. It gained first place in the branch of e-government transactions for 2006 as the best e-government portal for a government establishment. The ministry’s e-portal won the award from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology for the second year in succession. |
