Signing the agreement on MoFI's part was its Assistant Under Secretary for Revenue and Budget Khalid Ali Al Bustani, while the TRA was represented by Mohammed Nasser Al Ghanem, its Director General. Under the accord, MoFI is to supply the Authority with Electronic Points of Sale (EPOS) as well as the software and the plastic cards, while the TRA will facilitate linkage communication lines with the Ministry.
The e-Dirham, an offshoot of MoFI's e-government initiative, has proved very successful with many local governments, semi-governmental and independent organisations adopting it as a major payment method.
The project, which was launched in February 2001, is part of the government's policies aimed at utilising Information Technology (IT) innovations to facilitate a secure and convenient payment method for the government and the public alike.
The e-Dirham card is intended for customers who use government services frequently and can be obtained by individuals or businesses. The advantage of this card is that it is personalised and secure in such a way that it can only be used by the card holder.
The electronic card provides flexibility to institutions and companies that need the service; it can be recharged with any value at the agent's convenience, and its balance can be transferred to any other card belonging to the same agent.
Quelle: MENAFN, 28.06.2005
