“We have proposed to launch the government e-services gateway (UBAR portal), which is an integral part of eOman — by year-end or early 2007. A tender to facilitate the national e-service gateway will be floated soon,” Dr Salim bin Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of Information Technology Authority (ITA), told the Times of Oman yesterday.
eOman, Oman’s e-governance initiative, is aimed at creating a knowledge society. The ITA-led eOman, which is affiliated to the Ministry of National Economy, will create an effective government-community-citizen infrastructure that provides better public services to people, resulting in a meaningful information flow between the government and citizens. In a digital society, according to TRA, people avail various government services, pay their bills and taxes, access important information and register companies through an ‘online gateway’ that works 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
People prefer reliable and secure electronic transactions. In Oman, identity cards, based on smart-card technology, are issued to all residents electronically. This enables biometric authentication with a capability for multiple-applications such as personal identification, financial transactions, medical records and employment status in a single card.
TRA believes that the information technology-enabled services will create more job opportunities through technology parks, IT incubators and call centres. Eventually, all government units will be electronically connected with each other and will provide better public services. People will be highly IT literate and will use e-government services to better their lives. A digital society will boast of highly advanced telecommunications and wireless connectivity systems and solutions.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Palazhi Ashok Kumar
Quelle/Source: Times of Oman, 03.06.2006
